Returning to China for the first time in 5 years, the UFC came back with a bang with UFC Fight Night: Macao.
Headlined by a matchup between former champions Petr Yan and Deiveson Figuereido, this event featured new talent coming not only out of China, but all of East Asia.
This thrilling event brought explosive finishes that left fans on the edge of their seats. The card showcased elite-level striking, strategic grappling, and stunning knockouts that will be remembered for years to come…So let’s get to it quick time, with the Top 3 Finishes of the Night!
3. Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz
Opening up the main card we have up-and-rising Chinese prospect Zhang Mingyang against UFC debutant Ozzy Diaz.
At 17-6, Zhang came fresh off his UFC debut with a statement victory, a first-round KO that earned him a Performance of the Night award. He aimed to continue that momentum against the 9-2 Diaz!
The fight began in round 1 with a measured pace, with Zhang steadily pressuring Diaz.
Despite the relaxing pace, Zhang appeared to have found his rhythm quickly, and eventually caught and dropped a forward moving Diaz with a left elbow at 2:18.
Sensing the finish, Zhang unleashed a flurry of punches that left the referee no choice but to step in at 2:25, securing a dominant TKO victory and another Performance of the Night bonus for “Mountain Tiger!”
2. Shi Ming vs. Feng Xiaocan
Next up, we have UFC Season 3 Women’s Strawweight Tournament Final between Shi Ming and Feng Xiaocan.
Working also as a doctor, Shi Ming came into this bout with a 16-5 record, while Feng Xiaocan boasted a 10-2 record.
Despite Feng being the heavy favorite and having a huge height and reach advantage, the outcome suggested otherwise.
Round 1 began with Feng controlling the range, but it wasn’t long before Shi closed in with counters and eventually scored a takedown at 2:32.
At 2:39, Feng reversed into full mount and stayed in dominant position, until Shi scrambled back up at 3:33.
After that, it was relaxed, with intermittent back-and-forth striking exchanges.
In Round 2, Shi ran across the cage to start with a front kick. Nevertheless, Feng was dominated Shi on the feet, keeping her range, while Shi struggled to close in.
Round 3 continued to see Feng dominant on the feet until Shi faked a double leg takedown to land a head kick that knocked Feng out cold at 43 seconds.
Shi proceeded with some ground-and-pound until the referee stopped the fight at 46 seconds.
This knockout earned Shi the tournament championship as well as a Performance of the Night award, solidifying her place as a rising star in UFC’s strawweight division.
1. Muslim Salikhov vs. Song Kenan
Right before the main and co-main events, Muslim Salikhov lived up to his nickname, “The King of Kung Fu,” with a sensational finish.
Despite being 40 years of age, he still boasted the most spin kick knockouts in UFC history in addition to a phenomenal 20-5 record with his previous outing being a victory over UFC veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Against the 22-8 power hitter Song Kenan, “The King of Kung Fu” proved that age is just a number.
Round 1 started with both men exchanging calculated strikes, each looking to find an opening.
Salikhov specifically went for the leg kicks. At 2:39, Song landed a low blow that paused the action, but it didn’t stop Salikhov’s momentum, as he swept Song at the 3-minute mark.
At 3:46, Salikhov executed a perfectly timed spinning hook kick that landed flush on Song’s head, rendering him unconscious.
The referee halted the action at 3:48, giving Salikhov another highlight-reel victory and the card’s final Performance of the Night bonus!
