24 August 2024, Kathmandu: The Road to UFC Season 3 semifinals aired live from the UFC APEX Arena in Las Vegas, showcasing a night of intense competition and exceptional talent. After two thrilling episodes, eight fighters across four divisions have punched their tickets to the finals in this groundbreaking “win and advance” tournament, solidifying their places among Asia’s elite in mixed martial arts.
Episode 5 Recap: The night kicked off with a hard-fought women’s flyweight non-tournament bout between Yan Qihui and Danni McCormack. In a grueling battle that went the distance, McCormack emerged victorious with a unanimous decision, leaving Yan bloodied but unbowed.
In the first flyweight semifinal, Kiru Sahota leveraged his reach advantage to edge out Ruel Panales, earning a unanimous decision victory. The bantamweight semifinals saw Daermisi Zhawupasi and SuYoung You deliver an electrifying performance, with You’s precision and effectiveness ultimately swaying the judges in his favor.
The second flyweight semifinal was a closely contested affair between DongHun Choi and Angad Bisht. Both fighters had their moments, but it was Choi who emerged with a split decision win after a back-and-forth battle. In the second bantamweight semifinal, Baergeng Jieleiyisi showcased his superior ground game to earn a unanimous decision over Tokitaka Nakanishi.
Episode 6 Recap: The action continued with a welterweight non-tournament bout where Samandar Muradov maintained his unbeaten streak by out-grappling Jonathan Piersma to secure a unanimous decision.
In the women’s strawweight semifinal, Feng Xiaocan put on a dominant display against Miki Motono, controlling the fight from start to finish to earn a spot in the finals. The featherweight semifinals featured a clash of styles between Zhu Kangjie and Shin Haraguchi, with Zhu’s striking earning him a split decision victory despite Haraguchi’s strong wrestling.
The second women’s strawweight semifinal was another closely contested bout, with Shi Ming narrowly edging out Dong Huaxiang via split decision. The night concluded with a spectacular knockout by Xie Bin in the featherweight semifinals, as he stopped Masuto Kawana with a powerful right hand in the first round.
Official Results:
Flyweight Tournament:
- Kiru Sahota defeats Ruel Panales by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
- DongHun Choi defeats Angad Bisht by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Bantamweight Tournament:
- SuYoung You defeats Daermisi Zhawupasi by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).
- Baergeng Jieleyisi defeats Tokitaka Nakanishi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Featherweight Tournament:
- Zhu Kangjie defeats Shin Haraguchi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
- Xie Bin defeats Masuto Kawana by knockout (right hand) at 4:17 of Round 1.
Women’s Strawweight Tournament:
- Feng Xiaocan defeats Miki Motono by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
- Shi Ming defeats Dong Huaxiang by decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28).
Non-Tournament Bouts:
- Danni McCormack defeats Yan Qihui by decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27).
- Samandar Muradov defeats Jonathan Piersma by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
As the fighters prepare for the final showdown, the anticipation for the Road to UFC Season 3 finals is at an all-time high, with the best from Asia ready to showcase their skills on the grandest stage.
About UFC: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization. With a global fan base, the UFC is known for its thrilling fights and top-tier athletes, pushing the boundaries of combat sports.
