Rong Zhu ( ch: 茸主; born March 7, 2000) is a Chinese mixed martial artist 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 boxe ...

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

Tibetan Tibetan may mean: * of, from, or related to Tibet * Tibetan people, an ethnic group * Tibetan language: ** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard ** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken dial ...

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 Enbo Fight Club () is a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym based in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Overview Enbo Fight Club was founded in 2001 by En Bo (恩波), an ethnic Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibetan and retired army police officer. En Bo was born in ...

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 profess ...

UFC 261 ''UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 24, 2021 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Background The promotio ...

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 COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

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 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 challen ...

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

Mixed martial arts record

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Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

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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 Vegas ...

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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 National ...

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Wuliji Buren Wuliji Buren ( born March 1, 1990) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Starting out as a Shuai jiao, wrestler, Wuliji Buren competed in the China National ...

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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