The UFC is the premier MMA promotion in the world. Dana Whiteโs Contender Series is one of the best feeder shows for the promotion. Two contender series alumni have become UFC champions. However, the Road to UFC: Shanghai fight between Won Bin Ki and Tatsuya Saika has changed the MMA communityโs take on the Contender Series.
Unlike the Contender Series, the Road to UFC doesnโt receive a good promotion. After all, the Contender Series, held in the USA, caters to the American markets. On the other hand, the Road to UFC series caters to the Asian markets, particularly the South East. Nonetheless, Won Bin Kiโs come-from-behind victory over Tatsuya Saika in episode 3 of Road to UFC: Shanghai has stunned fight fans.
The lightweight matchup opened the fight card at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai. However, the fight was not part of the Road to UFC tournament. Nonetheless, Bin Ki and Saika showcased their grit, maximizing the opportunity.
Seven fighters have bagged a UFC contract through Road to UFC events. Anshul Jubli, the first Indian-born MMA fighter, had won the Road to UFC Season 1 lightweight tournament. The undefeated Rinya Nakamura won the bantamweight tournament in the same season.
Fight fans react to exciting bout between Won Bin Ki and Tatsuya Taika at Road to UFC
The Road to UFC has become a pathway for South East Asian MMA fighters to bag a UFC contract. Unlike the Contender Series, which has a format akin to the UFC, the Road to UFC series is in a tournament format.
Won Bin Ki defeated Tatsuya Taika at Road to UFC (Image via: X)The recent lightweight matchup between Won Bin Ki and Tatsuya Taika has created a buzz in the MMA community. In a fight where both fighters swung haymakers, like the final moments of Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway, Bin Ki eventually came victorious. See how fight fans reacted to it below.
That ref couldnโt believe the amount of action he was seeing
โ Stephen Ai Smith แถ แตโฟ (@stephenaismth) May 21, 2024
Better cardio won
โ jetty jack (@rockstarnoguitr) May 22, 2024
Talent pipeline
โ Kubli Khan (@KhanKubli89248) May 21, 2024
This one was wild!
โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (@imjustinbernard) May 20, 2024
It sucks itโs on so early in the morning for us but it makes sense
โ Kevin (@realkevink) May 20, 2024
it should get the push that dwcs does
โ m ๐ (@RoblesTruther) May 21, 2024
It’s so under promoted because these events are often in crazy far off locations and with weekly UFC events, Power Slap, TUF and Contender Series all going on at any given time it’s the same employees having to cover all of them. Burning the candle at 5 ends lol
โ Cory (@KaddySchak) May 20, 2024
Must be because it doesnโt have Danaโs name in the title of the show
โ Tommy Handicap (@HandicapTommy) May 20, 2024
God damn, those boys threw some damn hands. Gassed each other in thr first hahahah love to see it.
โ Hugh Chardon (@HughChard0n) May 21, 2024
Jamahal Hill was the first alumni from the Contender Series to become a UFC champion at UFC 283. Sean OโMalley followed suit, defeating Aljamain Sterling to become champion at UFC 292. Road to UFC winner Anshul Jubli had high hopes but lost to Mike Breeden at UFC 294.
However, Rinya Nakamura has fought thrice in the UFC and sports an undefeated record. The Japanese superstar is a former Gold medalist at the U-23 championships and won a Bronze medal at the Wrestling World Cup. The UFC has high hopes that Nakamura will help them enter the Japanese MMA market.
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