Who is Yi Zha?

Who is Yi Zha?

As a fan of mixed martial arts, I must say that Yi Zha (24-4-0) is one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC’s featherweight division right now. Having followed his journey since he started competing at a professional level back in 2011, it’s incredible to see how far he has come.


24-year-old Yi Zha, a Chinese mixed martial artist, has recently triumphed in the featherweight division. His latest victory against Kaiwen Li was achieved by submission through an armbar. This achievement earned him a contract with the UFC following his success on “The Road to UFC”. Notably, he managed to secure this contract during his second attempt on “The Road to UFC”, having reached the finals of the UFC Featherweight tournament.

Hailing from 1997, Zha developed an early passion for martial arts combat. He honed his skills in both ancient Chinese martial arts and modern MMA techniques, which proved beneficial in the UFC. Following years of rigorous training, he made his professional debut in 2011. Over the course of time, he has emerged as one of the UFC’s rising stars, demonstrating his potential on numerous occasions.

Initially undefeated with nine victories, Zha suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Mark Abelardo. This initial loss was merely a minor hiccup as Zha continued to win three subsequent bouts before encountering another loss against Chunbo Yuan. Much like the previous setback, this second loss proved to be insignificant in the grand scheme of things, as Zha went on to accumulate additional victories afterwards.

Zha is part of a group of promising Chinese UFC fighters. He has the ability to become one of the greatest fighters within the UFC Octagon representing China someday. Currently, Zhang Weili and Song Yadong are considered the top Chinese UFC fighters based on fan votes. However, in the future, Zha could very well join that esteemed group.

At 27 years old, this individual stands at approximately 5 feet 7 inches, with a remarkable reach of around 179 centimeters. Over his last five bouts, he has managed to secure victories in four, with only one loss coming by way of split decision. Zha’s talent has garnered significant recognition due to his versatile skillset. He boasts quick and powerful striking moves, and is proficient at taking down opponents effectively. Moreover, he showcases a variety of submission techniques. Beyond the Octagon, his ability to maintain his calmness under pressure is truly impressive.

At UFC Vegas 97, Zha will go up against Gabriel Santos. It’s important to note that Santos has earned a respectable record for himself. Over his last 12 fights, he has managed 10 wins and only 2 losses. Hailing from Brazil, Santos stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches, with a reach of 70 inches (leg reach: 41 inches). Despite this, Santos is slightly lighter in weight compared to his opponent, weighing around 10 pounds less than Zha.

In this fight, it seems the decisive factor might boil down to ground control. Both Santos and Zha showcase impressive defense against takedowns, but Santos has a slight edge at 66%, compared to Zha’s 59%. Furthermore, Santos demonstrates superior precision in executing takedowns, which could potentially swing the battle in his favor. Overall, this fight between Santos and Zha promises to be thrilling, even though Santos is currently favored for wagers.

Regardless of his current age, Zha still has ample opportunity to become one of China’s top-tier UFC fighters. His past achievements hint at this possibility becoming a reality. It’s safe to say that Zha’s future within the UFC Octagon shines brightly.

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2024-09-07 21:13

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