Zhang Mingyang made history in 2022 by earning his UFC contract with a brutal first-round knockout victory.
The Chinese fighter first came to prominence when he appeared as a contestant on the Road to UFC show back in 2022.
The program was created to unearth the top MMA fighters in Asia and bring them to compete at the highest level in the UFC.
One of these talents was Zhang Mingyang, who shocked the world with his impressive victory to announce himself as a future UFC star.
Zhang Mingyang knocked out Tuko Tokkos to make history on Road to UFC
Mingyang was a massive underdog when he walked into the octagon for the very first episode of the Road to UFC TV show.
The Light Heavyweight took on George Tokkos on the show’s debut episode, the British fighter who had competed for Bellator and showed huge promise in the octagon.
However, that promise dissipated quickly when he stepped into the ring with the Chinese fighter, who made quick work of him in just one round.
The towering Light Heavyweight tenderized Tokkos’ face at Road to UFC in minutes in the first fight of the episode, leaving him bloodied and battered on the canvas after less than four minutes.
Mingyang knocked him out cold with a massive right hand, as Tokkos fell backwards in what seemed like slow-motion, and the referee jumped in to stop Mingyang from doing more damage.
The knockout was so impressive that Dana White offered Mingyang a contract immediately after the fight, adding the Chinese star to an already impressive roster of talent.
This made Mingyang the first Chinese fighter to earn a deal this way, although his career would go from strength-to-strength soon after he touched down in the United States.
Zhang Mingyang returns to Asia to headline UFC Shanghai against Johnny Walker
While the Road to UFC event took place in Singapore, Mingyang will get to fight in China for the first time since joining the promotion at UFC Shanghai.
After picking up three consecutive wins in his first three fights, including Mingyang retiring Anthony Smith after a brutal beatdown, he is positioned in the main event of the UFC’s return to China.
For the first time since 2017, the promotion brings its fights to mainland China. There is a huge market in the country, and White will be hoping that Mingyang can impress to become a massive star in his home country.
His opponent in the UFC Shanghai main event will be Johnny Walker, a Brazilian fighter whose previous results will make him the underdog walking into the octagon in China.
Mingyang seems certain to take home the victory and cement himself as a Light Heavyweight contender in the UFC.