UFC Fight Night 257: Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard Preview & Prediction
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TUF 31 finalist, Austin Hubbard, looks to arrest a two fight losing streak as he takes on the Road to UFC Season 2 Lightweight Tournament winner, Rong Zhu.
Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard facts
What time are Rong Zhu and Austin Hubbard expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang? Shanghai Indoor Stadium, Shanghai, China
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 257
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang main card
Johnny Walker vs Zhang Mingyang (Light Heavyweight)
Brian Ortega vs Aljamain Sterling (Featherweight)
Sergei Pavlovich vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Heavyweight)
Su Mudaerji vs Kevin Borjas (Flyweight)
Taiyilake Nueraji vs Kiefer Crosbie (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 257: Walker vs Zhang prelims
Maheshate Hayisaer vs Gauge Young (Lightweight)
Lone'er Kavanagh vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard (Lightweight)
Michel Pereira vs Kyle Daukaus (Middleweight)
Yi Zha vs Westin Wilson (Featherweight)
Xiao Long vs You Su-young (Bantamweight)
Uran Satybaldiev vs Diyar Nurgozhay (Light Heavyweight)
Rong Zhu: "Little Yama" looks to build on a Fight of the Night winning performance in his last outing
Cut from the UFC during his first 1-2 stint with the promotion after back-to-back weight misses, Rong Zhu (26-6) found himself back in the promotion after winning Road to UFC Season 2's lightweight tournament, earning his shot at redemption with two finishes in three victories. A flashy striker with crisp technique and KO power, "Little Yama" sports a 1-1 record since his return, losing by doctor's stoppage to Chris Padilla before a Fight of the Night winning unanimous decision victory over Kody Steele in February. With more than 30 fights under his belt, Zhu is remarkably experienced considering he is only 25 years old. However, he has also demonstrated lapses in his fight IQ when he is faced with an opponent who will get in his face and bring the fight to him.
Austin Hubbard: Can the veteran play spoiler and implement his grinding style on his latest opponent?
Four fights into his second UFC run, the book has largely been written on Austin Hubbard (16-9) and his MMA style. A durable veteran of the sport who implements a well-rounded, albeit unexciting, approach to his fights, the former LFA lightweight champion punched his unlikely ticket back into the big leagues by earning a spot in the TUF 31 finale. Losing by submission to Kurt Holobaugh in the tournament final, the Elevation Fight Team representative has gone 1-2 since coming up short to "The Hurt" at UFC 292, although it's worth noting that he is coming off successive split decision losses; there's an argument that "Thud" is unlucky not to be 3-0 since his return. He was last seen in action in March, losing a close scrap to MarQuel Mederos in Mexico City.
Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard prediction
Looking down the barrel of three successive defeats, Hubbard could well be fighting for his job. The veteran is 33 and his fights have a tendency to be dull, grinding affairs, indicating that another loss could be the final straw for "Thud" here.
However, as the hometown favorite, there's also a considerable amount of pressure on Zhu to produce a show stopping performance. The former LFA lightweight kingpin has never been knocked out in his professional career, and it could potentially be a long night for Zhu if he is unable to find the finish. "Little Yama" could well overextend himself trying to find a highlight reel stoppage and find himself grounded by Hubbard in the process, an area where the American has historically found success in wet blanketing his opponents.
With that being said, it's hard to ignore Zhu's impressive takedown defense rate of 84%. He has yet to prove his ability to stay standing against an opponent that possesses Hubbard's levels of craftiness and experience, but he's also younger, more powerful, and pushes a higher pace. Furthermore, there's a path to victory for him where he doesn't find the finish, stuffing takedowns and utilizing his superior kickboxing to pepper Hubbard at range. By contrast, it's hard to see how the American wins unless it is through consistent lay and pray or stalling against the cage.
While "Thud's" toughness means that it would be unwise to assume a finish, Zhu's striking sees him outdog the American across three rounds to earn his second successive win.
Prediction: Rong Zhu to win
