Explosive UFC Shanghai Prelims Deliver Knockouts and Submissions
The energy inside Shanghai Indoor Stadium was electric as UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang kicked off with a preliminary card packed full of action. Fans who tuned in early were rewarded with a mix of lightning-fast knockouts, gritty decisions, and slick submissions that set the tone for what promises to be a historic night of fights in China.
One of the biggest highlights came from Charles Johnson, who silenced the hype around previously unbeaten Lone’er Kavanagh. Kavanagh started strong, controlling much of the early action, but as the second round wore on, his pace began to fade. Johnson seized the opportunity, dialed up the pressure, and landed a clean right hand that shut the lights out at 4:35 of the round. For Johnson, it wasn’t just a victory—it was redemption, a reminder of the knockout power that had once carried him into the spotlight.
Local favorite Rongzhu kept the crowd on its feet with a unanimous decision win over Austin Hubbard. Their lightweight clash was competitive, with Hubbard making adjustments in the middle frame. Still, Rongzhu’s speed, striking variety, and composure gave him the edge. Judges scored it in his favor, marking his second consecutive UFC victory and solidifying him as one of the division’s intriguing young talents to watch.
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- Kyle Daukaus Stuns UFC Shanghai with First-Round Knockout
The card also saw a stunning return from Kyle Daukaus, known as “The D’Arce Knight.” After a few years away from the UFC, he wasted no time in reminding fans of his finishing instincts. Just 43 seconds into the opening round, Daukaus clipped Michel Pereira with a sharp right hook and followed up with heavy ground-and-pound for the knockout. After grinding on the regional scene, this was the reintroduction he needed, putting the rest of the middleweight division on notice.
Yi Zha also made a statement, flattening Westin Wilson in only 37 seconds. The first left hand Yi threw landed flush, and once he smelled blood, he never let up. Wilson crumbled against the fence as Yi poured on the strikes, giving the Chinese featherweight one of the fastest and most emphatic wins of the night. For Yi, who entered the bout off a tough loss in his UFC debut, it was a dream rebound and a moment that had the local fans roaring in approval.
In bantamweight action, SuYoung You kept his momentum alive with a unanimous decision over Xiao Long. It wasn’t easy against the resilient hometown fighter, but You’s clean striking and efficiency through the first two rounds carried him on the scorecards. That’s now five straight wins for the South Korean prospect, who continues to climb steadily.
And in the light heavyweight division, Uran Satybaldiev delivered one of the most unique finishes of the evening by submitting Diyar Nurgozhay with an Ezekiel choke—a rare move in modern MMA. After rocking his opponent early, Satybaldiev chased submissions and finally locked in the choke, forcing a tap midway through the first round. For the 31-year-old Kyrgyz talent, it was a much-needed bounce-back performance and one that shows he belongs among the rising names at 205 pounds.
From thunderous knockouts to crafty submissions, the prelims in Shanghai proved why fight fans never skip the early portion of the card. With the main event between Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang still to come, the night already feels like a celebration of both local talent and international stars making their mark inside the Octagon.
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