Shanghai, September 4
The Road to UFC Season 5 semifinals concluded at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on August 28, setting four tournament final pairings for early next year. Seven fights determined the finalists across four weight classes, with the card also featuring two UFC matchups. The main event saw Maheshate return with a first-round submission victory over Darrius Flowers via an arm-in guillotine choke, closing the card in thrilling fashion.
In the flyweight division, Takaya Suzuki of Japan defeated Australia’s Joseph Larcinese by TKO in the third round, displaying swift and diverse striking. Larcinese appeared to roll his ankle late in the second round and struggled in the final frame.
Suzuki will face China’s Jiniushiyue in the finale, who advanced after opponent Takeru Uchida failed to make weight, resulting in a walkover. In the bantamweight semifinal, Rabindra Dhant of Nepal earned a split decision victory over Kasib Murdoch after a grueling 15-minute battle. Dhant’s historic win continued his Cinderella run to the finale and brought a moment of joy to people in Nepal coping with severe flooding.
In the featherweight division, Australia’s George Mangos, now with a professional record of ten wins and one loss, submitted Ahejiang Ailinuer in the second round with a rear-naked choke after threatening with triangle chokes in the first. Mangos will face Mongolia’s Dagiisuren Chagnaadorj in the finale, who submitted YoungJae Song in the first round earlier in the evening.
In the strawweight division, Meng Bo of China, a veteran with thirty-one professional fights, defeated Japan’s Machi Fukuda via split decision, dominating in grappling exchanges. Bo will face South Korea’s BoHyun Park in the finale to determine who follows Shi Ming as the second female Road to UFC tournament winner. In a middleweight bout, Yilizhati Maimaitijiang of China fought Tre’ston Vines to a split draw in his promotional debut, rallying in the third round with a 10-8 frame on one judge’s scorecard after appearing to wilt in the second.
The event set the stage for the UFC card scheduled for Saturday night, with the tournament finale pairings to take place early next year.
