Kangjie vs Ando, Hariguchi vs Hong, Xiaocan vs Singh Fight Picks – Road to UFC 3 – Shanghai Quarterfinals 1 – May 18, 2024

Kangjie Zhu vs Tatsuya Ando

  • Kangjie Zhu
  • Age: 28
  • Pro Record: 18-4
  • Key Losses: Lost to a 10-10 striker.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a 9-3 grappler. Beat a well rounded 4-0 fighter.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: a little above average (55)
  • Tatsuya Ando
  • Age: 34
  • Pro Record: 14-3
  • Key Wins: Submitted Kevin Croom, a 14-3 grappler, and a 10-3 striker. Knocked out a 17-4 wrestler and a well rounded 11-1 fighter. Beat an 11-3 wrestler.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Grappling: above average (60)

I’m pretty sure I have Kangjie’s striking graded right as a 60, but the wrestling tool could be a 50. I wasn’t as impressed with what I saw from him there.

Chris’ Pick: Ando by split decision.

What odds I think the favorite should be: Ando -125


Shin Haraguchi vs Jun Young Hong

  • Shin Haraguchi
  • Age: 25
  • Pro Record: 7-1
  • UFC Record: 2-1
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-0 fighter and Sang Won Kim. Beat Jae Hyun Park.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Jun Young Hong
  • Age: 33
  • Pro Record: 13-7
  • Key Losses: Lost to a 15-7 striker. Split decision loss to a 12-5 striker.
  • Key Wins: Beat an 11-4 wrestler.
  • Striking: a little above average (55)
  • Power: fringe average (45)
  • Wrestling: average (50)

When Haraguchi fought Rong Zhu, you could really see the size difference, Haraguchi being much smaller. He now moves down to 145 lbs where I expect his tools to play up.

Chris’ Pick: Haraguchi by 1st round submission.

What odds I think the favorite should be at: Haraguchi -400


Xiaocan Feng vs Kiran Singh

  • Xiaocan Feng
  • Age: 22
  • Pro Record: 8-2
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Feier Huang. Submitted Miki Motono. Beat a 14-5 striker.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Grappling: a little above average (55)
  • Kiran Singh
  • Age: 24
  • Pro Record: 7-3
  • Striking: average (50)
  • Power: below average (40)
  • Grappling: a little above average (55)

Maybe Singh has 60 grappling. But even if she does, Xiaocan has experience with a grappler like that when she beat Motono. Xiaocan’s striking could be as high as a 65, she’s got a long reach for 115 lbs.

Chris’ Pick: Xiaocan by 1st round knockout.

What odds I think the favorite should be at: Xiaocan -350


Feier Huang vs Miki Motono

  • Feier Huang
  • Age: 30
  • Pro Record: 14-8
  • Striking: average (50)
  • Power: average (50)
  • Grappling: average (50)
  • Miki Motono
  • Age: 29
  • Pro Record: 8-4
  • Striking: a little above average (55)
  • Power: a little above average (55)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Motono by decision.

What odds I think the favorite should be at: Motono -200


Bahateboli Batebolati vs Han Seul Kim

  • Bahatebole Batebolati
  • Age: 25
  • Pro Record: 8-1-1
  • UFC Record: 1-0
  • Key Wins: Split decision over a well rounded 8-2 fighter.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Han Seul Kim
  • Age: 33
  • Pro Record: 13-5
  • UFC Record: 0-1
  • Key Losses: Split decision loss to a 7-5 fighter.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-1 wrestler. Submitted a 6-1 striker.
  • Striking: a little above average (55)
  • Power: a little above average (55)
  • Wrestling: a little above average (55)

Won Bin Ki came in as a -170 favorite over Batebolati, which was crazy to me. But Batebolati exceeded even my expectations, striking was better than I thought, a 65. I also think his wrestling is probably a 65, but I’ll admit there’s some projection baked into the grade. 

Chris’ Pick: Batebolati by 2nd round knockout.

What odds I think the favorite should be: Batebolati -450

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