Rong Zhu ( ch: 茸主; born March 7, 2000) is a Chinese

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

who competed in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight b ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

Background

Of Tibetan descent, as early as the age of 12, Rong began to practice Sanda. After three years of hard training, he did not achieve excellent results, realizing that this path might not be suitable for him, Zhu decided to switch sports and after seeing MMA on TV, and was instantly attracted by the sport. Later, after being introduced by his uncle, Zhu 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 Rodrigo Vargas (born August 15, 1985), is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He competes in the lightweight division. Mixed martial arts career Early career Starting his prof ...

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 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...

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. Rong faced Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green on February 26, 2022. At the weigh-ins, Zhu 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 his opponent Ignacio Bahamondes. He lost the bout via third round submission. In May 2022, it was reported that Rong was released from UFC.

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.

Championships and accomplishments

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

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 22–5 , Felipe Maia , TKO (punches) , UAE Warriors 34 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:59 , Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–5 , Ignacio Bahamondes , Submission (brabo choke) , UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:40 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 21–4 , Brandon Jenkins , TKO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:35 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 20–4 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , UFC 261 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 20–3 , Deliya Bi , TKO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 50 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:16 ,

Zhengzhou Zhengzhou (; ), also spelt Zheng Zhou and alternatively romanized as Chengchow, is the capital and largest city of Henan Province in the central part of the People's Republic of China. Located in north-central Henan, it is one of the Nationa ...

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 19–3 , Shayilan Nuerdanbieke , KO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 47 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:05 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 18–3 , Jiaqiang Han , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , WLF W.A.R.S. 46 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:01 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 17–3 , Huwanixi Wusikenbieke , KO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 43 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:47 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 16–3 , Alisson Barbosa , Decision (unanimous) , WLF W.A.R.S. 39 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 15–3 , Mohsen Mohammadseifi , KO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 35 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:50 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 14–3 , Marcio Andrade , Submission (rear-naked choke) , WLF W.A.R.S. 31 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 3:49 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 13–3 , Nikoloz Kajaia , Submission (guillotine choke) , WLF W.A.R.S. 27 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:47 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 12–3 , Arben Escayo , TKO (injury) , ABA Fighting Championship: Hongyuan , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:39 , Hongyuan County, China , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3 , Aleko Sagliani , TKO (retirement) , WLF W.A.R.S. 25 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:55 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 , Arsen Balyants , TKO (elbows and punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 23 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 0:55 ,

, China , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–3 , Guilherme Cadena , Submission (triangle choke) , WLF W.A.R.S. 21 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:32 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 , Takuma Watanabe , TKO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 18 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:42 , Maerkang, China , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Vincenzo Tagliamonte , TKO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:44 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , Ruslan Khairulin , TKO (punches) , WLF W.A.R.S. 15 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:02 ,

, China , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–2 , Wuliji Buren , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Chin Woo Men: 2016-2017 Season, Stage 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:37 ,

Guangzhou Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong ...

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 , Shanati Shamaiti , Decision (unanimous) , Chin Woo Men: 2016-2017 Season, Stage 5 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 5–1 , Feng Kai Niu , Submission (armbar) , Chin Woo Men: 2016-2017 Season, Stage 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:43 ,

, China , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–1 , Shamil Nasrudinov , Submission (guillotine choke) , WLF E.P.I.C. 9 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:01 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Semen Galushko , TKO (punches) , WLF E.P.I.C. 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:16 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Andrey Sapa , Technical Submission (guillotine choke) , WLF E.P.I.C. 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:18 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Vadim Hristoforov , TKO (punches) , WLF E.P.I.C. 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:39 ,

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Roman Lutsenko , Disqualification (punches to back of head) , Bullet Fly FC 4 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:06 ,

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

, China ,

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rong, Zhu 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 Athletes from Sichuan Tibetan sportspeople