The UFC returns to China for a clash for the Women’s Strawweight championship. The card will feature some of China’s finest, and is filled with many young fighters looking to make a name for themselves. Will we have our first ever Chinese UFC champion? Or will the incumbent defend her belt for the first time?

Prelims
Women’s Bantamweight: Karolline Cavedo (11-3) vs Lara Procopio (6-0)- Cavedo TKO

Bantamweight: Batgerel Danaa (6-1) vs Heili Alateng (12-7)- Alateng TKO

Lightweight: Damir Ismagulov (18-2) vs Thiago Moises (12-3) Ismagulov Unanimous Decision

Light Heavyweight: Da Un Jung (10-2) vs Khadis Ibragimov (8-0)- Ibragimov Unanimous Decision

Bantamweight: Su Mudaerji (9-3) vs Andre Soukhamthath (13-7)- Soukhamthath Submission

Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez (7-1) vs Jun Yong Park (9-3)- Hernandez Unanimous Decision

Main
Women’s Flyweight: Wu Yanan (10-2) vs Mizuki Inoue (13-5)- Inoue Split Decision
Yanan is a solid striker with legit knockout power. She is also large for the division standing at 5’8, and has the ability to strike from the outside. She has had issues in the past against strong wrestlers. Yanan is only 23, but has the tools to be a future contender. Inoue is an experienced fighter who tends to lean on her grappling. She has solid takedowns, and has won the majority of her fights by submission. However, she will be at an height, size, and age disadvantage in this bout. I am leaning towards Inoue in this fight, I believe she use her superior grappling to ground the striker.

Welterweight: Kenan Song (13-4) vs Derrick Krantz (23-11)- Krantz Unanimous Decision
Song is a well rounded fighter who can strike and grapple if necessary. He has flashed his knockout ability winning his first two fights in the UFC by TKO. Song actually has a fight against Israel Adesanya on his record (a loss in 2015) The biggest question will be can Song stop the takedowns of Krantz? Song has several submission victories in his past, but the majority of those were early in his career. He loves to strike, and doesn’t willingly engage in the grappling aspect often. Krantz is coming off a valiant losing effort in his UFC debut as a last minute replacement against Vicente Luque. Krantz has spent many years on the regional scene, and now has another chance to earn his UFC spot. Krantz is an aggressive striker who looks to engage from the opening bell. He has knockout power, and does his best work with his hands. Krantz has the ability to wrestle as well, and has taken down the majority of his opponents. He has had issues with submissions in the past, specifically with the guillotine off of takedown attempts. However, Krantz is a threat offensively with his submissions. He generally opens up his opponents with ground and pound, and eventually sinks in a rear naked choke. I have Krantz winning this fight against Song. I feel he can dictate where the fight goes, and as long as he doesn’t get lured into a brawl should win. Krantz has the superior skillset in most of the areas in this fight.

Flyweight: Kai Kara-France (19-7) vs Mark de la Rosa (11-2)- France Split Decision
Kara-France is a training partner of current UFC Interim Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Kara-France is known for his high level Muay Thai mixing both punches and kicks. Kara-France also has great cardio, and sets a pace that many of his opponents can’t keep up with. He has improved his takedown defense as well. Kai currently has a seven fight win streak with his confidence at an all time high. de la Rosa is a style contrast as he tends to rely heavily on his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. de la Rosa is a good wrestler, but will be at a disadvantage on the feet. This fight could go either way, and I expect it to be a very tight contest. I will give the edge to Kara-France because I believe he is has more ways to win.

Welterweight: Elizeu dos Santos (21-5) vs Li Jingliang (16-5)- dos Santos TKO
dos Santos has long been a sleeper contender in the Welterweight division. The Brazilian comes from a Muay Thai and Capoeira background proving he is proficient on the feet. dos Santos has fourteen knockouts on his record, and is willing to try unorthodox maneuvers to get the finish. He does the majority of the work with his kicks and knees, but has solid hands as well. Elizeu isn’t lost on the ground either showing his improved submissions with a rear naked choke finish in his last bout. Jingliang is a big Welterweight with raw knockout power. He tends to use a heavy boxing approach, but likes to work the body with his kicks. Jingliang has a granite chin, and has never been knocked out despite fighting a brawling style. He has a fan friendly approach often engaging in slug fests on the feet. Jingliang has had real issues with wrestlers, and the majority of his losses have come against superior grapplers. I see dos Santos taking this fight by way of knockout. I believe he is the more well rounded striker, and Jingliang hasn’t fought anyone at his level to this point.

Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (20-6) vs Weili Zhang (19-1)- Andrade Submission
Andrade has finally found her home in the Strawweight division. She used to fight at Bantamweight (135 pounds), and found herself at a big size disadvantage. At 115 pounds, she is much stronger than the majority of her opponents, and doesn’t have to deal with the height discrepancy as much. Andrade tends to lean on her boxing on the feet, and is one of the rare female’s with one punch power. She is very aggressive, and tends to walk her opponents down without taking a back step. Andrade is very strong, and uses this attribute to land powerful takedowns. She actually won the belt against Rose Namajunas with a slam takedown. Jessica has solid ground and pound, and is a submission threat with her brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Zhang has been on an incredible run winning nineteen straight fights after losing her pro debut. On paper, she is by far the most accomplished Chinese fighter, and will look to win her belt in her home country. Zhang is a very technical striker, and fights well from the outside. She mixes her attacks up working both the body and head. Weili is above average in the clinch, and has the size and strength to not be overwhelmed by Andrade. Zhang is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has actually won seven of her fights by submission. The biggest question will be is she getting the title shot too early. She has not fought anyone close to Andrade’s level, and may have been pushed because they needed a home representative in China. I have Andrade defending her belt by way of submission. I feel her forward pressure and takedowns are going to be too much for Zhang to handle. I just believe she has the advantage in every area, and the only way I see her losing is if her cardio isn’t at an optimum level.

Photo Credit: https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3024490/ufc-fight-night-shenzhen-card-tickets-odds