The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced the launch of the third season of Road to UFC on April 23, 2024. This platform is considered the most significant opportunity for Asia’s top mixed martial arts (MMA) prospects to showcase their skills on a global stage. The opening round of this season is set to unfold over two days, May 18 and 19, at the UFC Performance Institute (UFC PI) in Shanghai, China.
The UFC PI in Shanghai is an impressive 93,000 square-foot facility, nearly three times larger than its Las Vegas counterpart. It holds the title of the world’s largest MMA training and development facility. Not only does it cater to the needs of the Asia-Pacific MMA community, but it also serves as the “Official High Performance Advisor” to the Chinese Olympic Committee. The institute is designed for live remote production (REMI), allowing it to connect seamlessly with the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The third season of Road to UFC will continue the “win and advance” tournament format, which has proven successful in previous seasons. The tournament will feature 32 athletes in each of four weight classes, with the addition of four non-tournament bouts to provide even more opportunities for fighters. This season will include men’s flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight divisions, and for the first time, it will also feature the women’s strawweight division. The lineup for the season includes four athletes from India, with matchups across the various weight classes offering a compelling mix of talent and competition.
The bouts for the upcoming season are already generating excitement, with a diverse range of participants from across Asia. The flyweight division will see matchups such as Jiniushiyue from China versus Dong Hoon Choi from South Korea, and John Almanza from the Philippines against Angad Bisht from India. The bantamweight division includes fighters like Soo Young Yoo from South Korea and Shohei Nose from Japan, while the featherweight and women’s strawweight divisions also promise thrilling contests. Additionally, non-tournament bouts will feature fighters in women’s flyweight, lightweight, and welterweight classes, adding further depth to the event.
Each round of the competition will be held in front of a live audience, with details on locations and venues to be announced ahead of each event. The finals will be showcased on a UFC Fight Night, with UFC contracts being awarded to the winners of each division. Kevin Chang, UFC Senior Vice President and Head of Asia, expressed his enthusiasm for the third season, noting the significant impact Road to UFC has had in developing local talent and expanding the fanbase in Asia. He highlighted the success of previous seasons and the anticipation for the upcoming action-packed season. To date, eleven participants from the Road to UFC series have earned UFC contracts, showcasing the growing depth of talent in Asia. The series will be aired in Asia primetime GMT +8, allowing audiences across the region to follow the athletes’ journeys through in-event features and competitions. In India and the subcontinent, the series will be broadcast by UFC’s official partner on their channels and available for streaming.
