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

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competes in the

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

division of the

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

(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 Enbo Fight Club () is a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym based in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Overview Enbo Fight Club (originally named Aba Prefecture Sanda Club) was founded in 2001 by En Bo, a Chinese MMA coach and former police officer. He state ...

as an assistant and sparring partner for

Su Mudaerji Su Mudaerji ( zh, 苏木达尔基; ; born January 20, 1996), sometimes written as Sumudaerji, is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship ...

, 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 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

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 Ignacio Antonio Bahamondes Carabantes (born August 27, 1997) is a Chilean professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is also the former LUX Fight League l ...

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 Road to UFC is a recurring mixed martial arts (MMA) event series in which top Asian MMA prospects compete to win contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Overview Structured into "seasons" and "episodes," it features a number of ...

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 UFC Apex (stylized as UFC APEX) is a live events and production center in Enterprise, Nevada, operated and owned by TKO Group Holdings (TKO). The venue hosts events held by TKO's two divisions, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and WWE, as ...

. 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. Rong faced Kody Steele via unanimous decision on February 9, 2025 at UFC 312. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him a '' Fight of the Night'' award.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** Fight of the Night (One time) *

Wu Lin Feng Wu Lin Feng (), also known as WLF, is a martial arts competition televised by Henan Television. It is the longest running martial arts program in China. Since 2007 the competition has become more international in nature, bringing in more chall ...

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

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 26–6 , Kody Steele , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 312 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 25–6 , Chris Padilla , TKO (doctor stoppage) , UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:14 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 25–5 , Shin Haraguchi , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Road to UFC Season 2: Episode 7 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:06 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 24–5 , Kim Sang-wook , Decision (unanimous) , Road to UFC Season 2: Episode 6 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Kallang Kallang ( ) is a Planning Areas of Singapore, planning area and New towns of Singapore, residential zone located in the Central Region, Singapore, Central Region of Singapore. Development of the town is centered around the Kallang River, the l ...

, Singapore , , - , Win , align=center, 23–5 , Hong Seong-chan , TKO (punches) , Road to UFC Season 2: Episode 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:17 ,

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 22–5 , Felipe da Silva Maia , TKO (punches) , UAE Warriors 34 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:59 ,

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

, United Arab Emirates , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–5 ,

, Submission (brabo choke) , UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:40 ,

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

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

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

Zhengzhou Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan, China. Located in northern Henan, it is one of the nine National central city, national central cities in China, and serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational center of the province. Th ...

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

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 18–3 , Han Jiaqiang , 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 , TKO (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 (shoulder injury) , 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 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:37 ,

Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...

, China , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 , Shanati Shamaiti , Decision (unanimous) , Chin Woo Men: 2016-2017 Season, Stage 6 , , 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 4 , , 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 , DQ (punches to back of head) , Bullet Fly FC 4 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:06 ,

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

, 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 Martial artists from Sichuan Tibetan sportspeople