Road to UFC 3: Episode 3 Breakdown and Predictions (Patreon)

Bantamweight, Daermisi Zhawupasi vs. Ren Ozaki

Tale of the Tape

Daermisi Zhawupasi
Shanghai, China
24
Five-foot-eight
8-1
Combined opponent's record: 35-13-1

Ren Ozaki
Chichibu, Saitama, Japan
22
Five-foot-seven
6-0-2
Combined opponent's record: 17-25-5

Pros and Cons

Daermisi Zhawupasi

Pros

• Submission threat

• Good wrestling

• Chain wrestles well

• Strong defensive wrestling

• Good grappling

• Fast starter

• Good ground and pound

Cons

• Questionable chin

• Shoots from too far out at times

Ren Ozaki

Pros

• Accurate

• Heavy hands

• Fast release

• Light footwork

• Good counter striker

• Quick

• Uses a lot of feints

• Good kicks

Cons

• N/A

Prediction: Zhawupasi is one of the many returning fighters who deserve another opportunity. I've really liked what I saw of Ozaki. Really good striker who has the technique, speed, and power. On the other end, Zhawupasi is a strong wrestler. From what I've seen Ozaki has defended all takedown attempts but Zhawupasi is a different beast. Zhawupasi is aggressive starting fast and can chain wrestle very well. We'll see how good the defense of Ozaki really is. Ozaki didn't have any glaring holes when watching him but a lot are unknown. I'm siding with Zhawupasi because I know he's a good fighter and he's gonna bring it to a less-tested Ozaki.

Flyweight, John Dave Almanza Vs. Angad Bisht

Tale of the Tape

John Dave Almanaza
Manila, Philippines
20
Five-foot-six
6-0
Combined opponent's record: 9-3-1

Angad Bisht
Uttarakhand, India
28
Five-foot-seven
9-3
Combined opponent's record: 43-32

Pros and Cons

John Dave Almanaza

Pros

• Submission threat

• Good right hand

• Dangerous off his back

• Good jiu-jitsu

Cons 

• Poor TDD

Angad Bisht

Pros

• Slick back take

• Decent-enough wrestling

• Scrambles well

• Durable

Cons

• Pressed back to easy

• Flat-footed

• Overzealous in the grappling

• Lacks volume

• Open to the body

Prediction: An interesting fight to call. I believe Almanza has a higher ceiling but is still green. Bisht has improved over time but isn't a UFC-level fighter. Almanza's nickname is the striker but it's been his ground game that's been on display. He makes mistakes holding onto chokes that aren't close. So far he's fought a level of competition where he's been good enough to find subs off his back. His striking is probably better than Bisht's because he just lets guys dictate the pace. Although Almanza is the fun pick I think Bisht is the choice. Almanza doesn't have great takedown defense and is too comfortable off his back that I think Bisht will take advantage of.

Bantamweight, Yoo Soo Young Vs Shohei Nose

Tale of the Tape

Yoo Soo Young
Seoul, South Korea
28
Five-foot-six
11-3
Combined opponent's record: 59-29-1

Shohei Nose
Fukuoka, Japan
26
Five-foot-six
12-4-2
Combined opponent's record: 111-71-15

Pros and Cons

Yoo Soo Young

Pros

• Excellent TDD

• Good lead jab

• Strong wrestling

• Times takedown entries well

• Good ground and pound

• Strikes to wrestle well

• Good leg kicks

Cons

• Don't check leg kicks

• Doesn't deal well with pressure

Shohei Nose

Pros

• Submission threat

• Good leg kicks

• Good wrestling

• Fast starter

• Diverse submission attack

Cons

• Slows as the fight goes

• TDD needs work

• Submission before position

Prediction: Nose is returning to RTU which has him on all three seasons of the series. Nose lost to Rinya in season one but no shame in that. Last season he lost to Xiao Long who I don't rate at all. He's getting a veteran and a well-rounded guy in Young. I saw well-rounded but Young is better with his wrestling and grappling. That's also where Nose is best. Nose is unorthodox and tricky and I don't think that helps him in this one. Nose doesn't have any takedown defense and is a very loose grappler. Young is the more technical grappler. He may not be as slick with the submissions but is better defensively and patient at what he does. I don't see this one playing out on the feet as much but Young has more tools and better defensively. I'm pretty confident in Young here.

Flyweight, Jiniushiyue Vs. Dong Hoon Choi

Tale of the Tape

Jiniushiyue
Shanghai, China
23
Five-foot-eight
13-3
Combined opponent's record: 42-35

Dong Hoon Choi
Seoul, South Korea
25
Five-foot-six
6-0
Combined opponent's record: 23-16-4

Pros and Cons

Jiniushiyue

Pros

• Good defensive wrestling

• Heavy top position

• Heavy ground and pound

• Solid wrestling

• Fast hands

• Good chain-wrestling

• Scrambles well

Cons

• Chin straight up

• Repetitive with his hands

Dong Hoon Choi

Pros

• Uses a lot of feints

• Counter strikes well

• Goon in the clinch

• Active jab

• Improved kickboxing

• Throws in twos

Cons

• Doesn't like pressure

• Vulnerable in exchanges

• Too patient

• Sloppy in extended combinations

• Suspect cardio

• One-dimensional

Prediction: Jiniushiyue fought last season and lost in the finals to a stud in Rei Tsuruya. I'm glad to see him back because he has some promise. Choi is the undefeated fighter but he leaves a lot to be desired. He has the skill to be very good but lacks the ability to put it together. I'd like to see him open up more but a big reason why he doesn't is because his gas tank drains. Another reason is he's too sloppy and vulnerable when pressing the pace. Jiniushiyue isn't a striker as he's limited and throws about the same one-two. He does at least have fast hands and I think that will allow him to escape in counters. I bet Jiniushiyue is gonna come out looking to wrestle. Choi has no interest in that so it's gonna be tough for him. Choi hasn't fought anyone like Jiniushiyue with the heavy wrestling ability. Nobody knows what his ground game looks like but him just avoiding at all costs may be a sign. I feel good about Jiniushiyue because he's better in his primary area than Choi is.

Lightweight, Won Bin Ki Vs. Tatsuya Saika

Tale of the Tape

Won Bin Ki
Seoul, South Korea
33
Five-foot-eleven
17-9
Combined opponent's record: 88-84-1

Tatsuya Saika
Kanagawa, Japan
33
Five-foot-eleven
11-4
Combined opponent's record: 113-96-14

Pros and Cons

Won Bin Ki

Pros

• Good right hand

• Knockout power

• Fast starter

• Constant forward pressure

• dangerous in exchanges

Cons

• Weak chin

• Gets drawn into brawls

• Reckless

Tatsuya Saika

Pros

• Good jab

• Uses range well

• Fast hands

• Heavy hands

Cons

• TDD needs work

• Hands too low

• Suspect chin

• Lacks submission/grappling defense

• Come in reckless

Prediction: Ki is getting another shot after being on the other two seasons of RTU. He lost in season one to Jeka Saragih. Last season he lost a DQ to Bahatebole Batebolati and both are bad-looking losses. Saika is either the hammer or the nail. He can with win with a dramatic or knockout or get submitted or knocked out himself. Could work out for him since Ki is reckless and has a weak chin. It basically depends on whose chin holds up longer. I'm slightly siding with Saika because he's the better striker offensively. He is chinny but so is Ki. If Ki just stands there and let Saika land on him like he did against Batebolati he's getting put away.