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Rong Zhu (Chinese: 茸主; born March 7, 2000) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background

Of Tibetan descent, as early as the age of 12, Rong began to practice Sanda. After three years of hard training and not achieving great results, he decided to switch sports and after seeing MMA on TV, and was instantly attracted by the sport. Later, after being introduced by his uncle, Rong started training at Enbo Fight Club as an assistant and sparring partner for Su Mudaerji, where his duties included tasks such as carrying towels and water.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Having his first pro fight just days after his 16th birthday in 2016, Rong compiled a 17–3 record on the Chinese regional scene, most off it with the promotion WLF, where he captured the Lightweight title and defended it three times.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rong made his UFC debut against Kazula Vargas at UFC 261 on April 24, 2021. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

For his second fight in the UFC, Rong was initially scheduled to face Dakota Bush on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann. However, Bush tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week and was replaced by Brandon Jenkins. At the weigh-ins, Rong weighed in at 158 pounds, two pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and he forfeited 20% of his purse to his opponent. He won the fight via technical knockout in round three.

Rong faced Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green on February 26, 2022. At the weigh-ins, Rong weighed in at 160 pounds, 4 pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. It was the second straight fight in which he had missed weight. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 40% of his purse, which went to Bahamondes. He lost the bout via third round submission.

Post UFC

In his first appearance post-release, Rong faced Felipe Maia on October 20, 2022, at UAE Warriors 34. He won the bout via TKO in the second round.

Rong entered the Road to UFC tournament and faced Hong Seong-chan in the Lightweight Quarter-final on May 28, 2023, at Road to UFC Season 2: Episode 3, defeating him via first round TKO stoppage.

In the Semifinals, Rong faced Kim Sang-wook on August 27, 2023, at Road to UFC Season 2: Episode 6, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Rong was scheduled to face Shin Haraguchi on December 9, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 233. However, they were pulled from this event due to the change of location. The bout eventually took place on February 4, 2024, at the UFC Apex. Rong won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round to become the Road to UFC 2 Lightweight champion.

Return to UFC

Rong faced Chris Padilla on September 7, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 242. He lost the fight by technical knockout via doctor stoppage as a result of an elbow to the eye in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

• Wu Lin Feng
  • WLF Lightweight Championship (One time)
    • Three successful title defenses

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
2. "China's Rong Zhu makes UFC history with dramatic late TKO". South China Morning Post. 19 September 2021.
3. sina_mobile (2021-04-24). "武林笼中对成中国MMA人才库，从宋亚东到茸主年轻一代越来越强". k.sina.cn. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
4. sina_mobile (2021-04-24). "武林笼中对成中国MMA人才库，从宋亚东到茸主年轻一代越来越强". k.sina.cn. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
5. "Welcome To The UFC: Rongzhu | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
6. "Lightweight fight between Zhu Rong and Rodrigo Vargas added to UFC 261 | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
7. Anderson, Jay (2021-04-24). "UFC 261 Results: Rodrigo Vargas Earns Decision Over Zhu Rong". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
8. Jesse Holland (2021-09-13). "Latest UFC Vegas 37 fight card, ESPN+ lineup for 'Smith vs Spann' on Sept. 18". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
9. Nolan King and Mike Bohn (2021-09-15). "Brandon Jenkins replaces COVID-positive Dakota Bush at UFC Fight Night 192 vs. Zhu Rong". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
10. Staff (2021-09-17). "UFC Fight Night 192 weigh-in results: One of 28 fighters misses weight". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
11. Bitter, Shawn (2021-09-18). "UFC Vegas 37 Results: Zhu Rong Gets TKO Finish". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
12. "Zhu Rong returns on February 26th". asianmma.com. November 28, 2021.
13. Lee, Alexander K. (2022-02-25). "UFC Vegas 49 weigh-in results: Rong Zhu over by 4 pounds for second straight miss". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
14. Anderson, Jay (2022-02-26). "UFC Vegas 49: Ignacio Bahamondes Picks Up First Submission Win, Taps Zhu Rong". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
15. Raghuwanshi, Vipin (2022-10-20). "UAE Warriors 34 Results LIVE, Martun vs Acoidan, Card, Time". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
16. Staff (2023-05-28). "Road to UFC 2: Episode 3 Full Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
17. "Road to UFC semifinal results: See who advanced to compete for a UFC contract". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
18. Desk, ITN News (2023-11-01). "UFC Shanghai Officially Announced, Road to UFC Season 2 Finals Also Set". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-11-03. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
19. News Desk (2023-11-16). "UFC Shanghai on Dec 9 shifted to Las Vegas, 5 bouts canceled". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
20. News Desk (2024-02-04). "Road to UFC Results & Scorecards Season 2 Finals". UFC.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
21. David Tees (2024-07-24). "REPORT: RONGZHU FACES CHRIS PADILLA ON SEPTEMBER 7 UFC CARD". pwinsiderxtra.com. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
22. Eddie Law (2024-09-07). "Chris Padilla Lands Nasty Elbow On Rongzhu's Left Eye, Doc Calls Fight". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
23. Sherdog.com. "Zhu Rong". Sherdog.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Rong Zhu from Sherdog
• Rong Zhu at UFC

• 2000 births
• Living people
• Chinese male mixed martial artists
• Lightweight mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists utilizing sanshou
• Chinese sanshou practitioners
• Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
• Sportspeople from Sichuan
• Tibetan sportspeople