Road To UFC 2 Semifinals in Singapore: Top Asian MMA Stars Make Featherweight Predictions

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UFC Singapore 2023: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie will be headlined by two of the best featherweights in the world: No. 2-ranked former title contender Max Holloway versus No. 7-ranked contender Chan Sung Jung.

Four more featherweights are on the path to follow these legends as they progress in the semifinals for ROAD TO UFC Season 2. They are the best MMA prospects from across Asia taking one more step towards a coveted UFC contract.

The Korean Zombie has spent almost 12 years climbing the ranks of the featherweight division in UFC. With his wealth of experience, he's now raising the next generation of athletes, some of whom have already tested their mettle in RTU: Jun Young Hong, Han Seul Kim, and Season 2 flyweight semifinalist Seung Guk Choi.

Other UFC fighters are already keeping a close eye on the tournament, such as Season 1 winner JeongYeong Lee, surging Fil-Aus Josh Culibao, and even top Chinese bantamweight Song Yadong, who has a unique connection.

Below, the top Asian MMA stars in the UFC give their insight and predictions for the featherweight hopefuls who have advanced to the crucial semifinals of ROAD TO UFC Season 2.

The opening round for Season 2 of ROAD TO UFC took place on May 27 and 28 at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai, where 32 martial arts athletes competed in each of four men's weight classes. In the featherweight division (>65.8kg), four winners advanced to the semifinals:

• Seasoned, intelligent tactician Yizha (23-4, fighting out of Sichuan, China) faces powerful, well-rounded Sang Won Kim (10-5-1, fighting out of Incheon, South Korea).

• Entertaining all-rounder finisher Koya Kanda (12-4, fighting out of Chiba, Japan) faces iconic aggressive striker Li Kaiwen (11-5, fighting out of Hunan, China).

UFC #8 bantamweight Song Yadong (20-7-1, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) isn't a featherweight, but he might be the one who knows the Chinese featherweights the best: he's former teammates with Yi Zha and Li Kaiwen.

Song Yadong Prediction for RTU 2 Semifinals: "I don't think Koya will bring too much trouble to Li Kaiwen if Li can control the pace of the fight. Koya is long and lean, and always goes for 2-4 strikes for a combo," Song said.

"He's not a heavy puncher, but he likes to push the pace, and makes his opponent get into his fast pace. I think Li Kaiwen shall control the pace and find Koya's loophole which will be the chance for Li Kaiwen to finish the fight in the 1st or 2nd round.

"Kim is a very balanced fighter, maybe his BJJ is better than his striking. Apparently, Yi Zha is the better fighter everywhere, but for this fight, Yi Zha shall use more of his striking to see Kim's reaction," Song added.

"He won't just force the takedown, he'll use the momentum of his striking then get the shoot. I think Yi Zha can finish the fight either with strikes or with GNP."

UFC featherweight JeongYeong Lee (16-5, fighting out of Sichuan, China) definitely knows the Season 2 competitors, and he's keeping a very close eye on them: he beat Yizha in the finals of Season 1 to become the featherweight winner.

Lee's RTU 2 semifinal prediction: "ROAD TO UFC was a great experience. It made me grow through many trials and errors, which will help me do much better when I go to the UFC. I think it will be a good stepping stone for Asian fighters who want to go to the UFC," Lee said.

"Yizha seems to have become a little calmer, but he should be careful because Sang Won Kim has one punch knock out power. I have a feeling that Yizha will win by decision and I think he will win the tournament. I hope he does and we can have a rematch. I want it and I think he wants it. Yizha, I'll be watching you. Be sure to win the tournament.

"Li Kaiwen looks explosive and aggressive and he has star power. Koya Kanda is a tall southpaw with long arms and legs. He also mixes wrestling with striking well. Still, I think Li Kaiwen will win with his superior striking."

UFC featherweight Josh Culibao is a Filipino-Australian up-and-comer will be fighting this weekend at UFC London as the main card opening fight at the O2 Arena in London, England on July 22.

Although he is fully focused on the featherweight in front of him, Lerone Murphy, Culibao gave a shout out to his APAC compadres, the ROAD TO UFC featherweights: "This is a great opportunity for Asian guys to get into the UFC, come on featherweights, get at me!"