Maheshate makes winning return, as Meng books RTU final berth

Despite coming back on short notice, China's mixed martial artist Maheshate made the most out of his return to the Octagon, closing out the first day action of UFC Fight Night Shanghai with a thrilling submission win.

Waived by the Ultimate Fighting Championship a year ago after back-to-back losses, Maheshate, who hails from Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang, did not expect to get an immediate second chance to prove himself on the world's highest-profile MMA stage.

Not until he was given one on Friday, and did so in an unexpectedly stunning fashion.

Added to the card a week ago to fill in for his compatriot Taiyilake Nueraji, Maheshate couldn't have done a better job in Shanghai, as he submitted grappler Darrius Flowers of the United States with a first-round guillotine choke in their lightweight main event, announcing his comeback in style.

"I think I am a way more mature MMA athlete now than I was during my first stint with the UFC," said the 26-year-old striker, who earned his first UFC contract in 2021 as a winner on the Dana White's Contender Series.

"I was too young when I first signed up with the UFC, and didn't make wise enough decisions (in picking opponents).

"I fight with more poise now, and I don't get panicked or feel too much pressure when facing tough situations during fights," said Maheshate, who completed his first spell with UFC with a 2-4 win-loss record.

Approached by the UFC to replace Taiyilake, who had to withdraw from the Shanghai card due to a sudden injury, Maheshate is very likely to have agreed to a minimum three-fight contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

He opted not to set his sights too far, or his hopes too high, this time around.

"I don't know how far I can go on my return. I just love this sport, and my priority will be working as hard as I can in training on a daily basis and only focusing on the next fight," said the product of Enbo Fight Club in Sichuan province.

Maheshate and Flowers opened the fight cautiously by pawing at one another in space, before the American veteran initiated the clinch and wrestled an off-balance Maheshate to the floor.

But Flowers left his neck exposed while trying to advance his position, offering Maheshate the opportunity to pounce and clamp onto an arm-in choke that left Flowers panicking, tapping out with a hand and a foot after just two and a half minutes.

Maheshate's quick finish salvaged what would have been an otherwise disappointing showing for Chinese fans on Friday night, where only one other home fighter managed to win their semifinal bout in the Road to UFC tournament.

In the co-main event, rising middleweight contender Yilizhati, another Chinese fighter from Xinjiang, had to settle with a split draw in his UFC debut against Tre'ston Vines of the US after three scramble-filled rounds.

In an earlier featherweight RTU semifinal, Chinese wrestler Ahejiang Ailinuer, who's also of the Kazakh ethnic group, was submitted by Australian grappler George Mangos with a rear naked choke midway through the second stanza of their bout.

Women's strawweight striker Meng Bo was the only Chinese fighter to advance victorious from the RTU semifinals, after the 30-year-old veteran outlasted Japan's Machi Fukuda via a split decision to reach the division final and keep her hopes of joining the UFC lineup alive.

Once a top prospect in the early stages of women's MMA in China, Meng, who handed UFC two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili her only defeat to a compatriot early in 2013, has had her career ascent stalled by inconsistent results and injury woes over the past decade.

She's kept knocking, though, until the door to the biggest stage finally creaked open.

"This victory means everything to me," said Meng, who's improved her career win-loss record to 24-8.

"I've persisted and waited for this UFC opportunity for years. I've experienced losses and doubts in my career, and I've even questioned whether I could still stand in the Octagon and fight for my dream. Tonight, I proved to myself and everyone that I belong here."

Each season's division winners of the RTU talent selection tournament, launched in 2022 specifically for the Asia-Pacific market, earn official, multi-bout contracts with UFC.