UFC"The Hypnotist / One Punch Man"Kangjie Zhu Record: 21-5-0
FeatherweightRecord21-5-0
Age30
DivisionFeatherweight · #60
Combat Edge Elo1690
Last fightMay 30 2026
Kangjie Zhu has a 21-5-0 professional record and is 30 years old in the Featherweight division, representing Haosheng Fight Gym. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Kangjie Zhu bio
Personal background
Kangjie Zhu is a Chinese featherweight competing in the UFC, a hard-hitting knockout artist who fights under the nicknames "The Hypnotist" and "One Punch Man." Born on January 16, 1996, in Hefei, in China's Anhui province, Zhu reached the Octagon with a 21–5 professional record and a reputation as one of the more dangerous strikers to come out of the Chinese regional scene. He trains out of Haosheng Fight Gym and stands 5'8" with a 70-inch reach. His ring names are well earned: more than half of his wins have come by knockout or TKO, the product of fast, heavy hands and an aggressive forward style.
Path to the UFC
Zhu turned professional in 2016 and cut his teeth on China's busy domestic circuit, fighting repeatedly on the Chin Woo Men, WLF and JCK platforms. His early years were a proving ground — he piled up first-round knockouts, including a memorable Superman-punch finish, while also learning from setbacks such as an early submission loss and a handful of close decisions. That volume of fights forged a fighter comfortable in deep water and capable of ending a night with a single shot.
Climbing the Chinese ranks
A key step came in October 2021, when Zhu outpointed the experienced Pengchao Feng over three rounds at WLF MMA 55, a unanimous-decision win over a proven regional name that signaled he was ready for bigger stages. He kept the momentum going with a string of finishes, including head-kick and body-kick knockouts, sharpening the well-rounded striking arsenal that would define his Road to UFC campaign.
Winning the Road to UFC tournament
Zhu's contract run came through the UFC's developmental Road to UFC series. He opened with a unanimous-decision win over Japan's Tatsuya Ando in May 2024, then edged Shin Haraguchi by split decision in August 2024 to reach the final. In May 2025 he capped the tournament with another split-decision win over Bin Xie, claiming the featherweight bracket and earning his official UFC deal in front of a home crowd.
UFC arrival
Zhu made his promotional debut at UFC Macau on May 30, 2026, against Rodrigo Vera. It was a rude welcome: Vera caught him with punches for a first-round knockout, handing Zhu his first loss in years and a reminder of how unforgiving the UFC level can be for a fighter who likes to trade. The setback does little to dim the punching power that carried him through the Road to UFC.
Fighting style
Zhu is a pressure-based striker built around power, with 12 knockouts among his 21 wins and zero career submissions — a finish profile that tells you exactly where his danger lives. He throws with bad intentions, mixing crisp boxing with kicks to the head and body, and has shown the gas tank to grind out three-round decisions when the finish doesn't come, as his Road to UFC run demonstrated. The trade-off is risk: an aggressive, stand-and-bang approach leaves him there to be hit, and elite punchers can turn that into a quick night, as Vera did in his debut.
Career highlights
- Road to UFC champion — won the featherweight tournament with a split-decision over Bin Xie to earn his UFC contract.
- Knockout pedigree — piled up 12 KO/TKO wins among 21 victories, fighting under the nicknames "The Hypnotist" and "One Punch Man."
- Tournament run — beat Tatsuya Ando and Shin Haraguchi in back-to-back Road to UFC bouts to reach and win the final.
Career snapshot
Kangjie Zhu career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1690Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#478
Featherweight#60of 195 active
Peak1703
Last move-12
Opponent quality1560avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1703 Elo after defeating Bin Xie (2025-05-23)
Similar Elo in Featherweight
Recent Elo history
LossRodrigo Vera2026-05-30 | KO-12WinBin Xie2025-05-23 | Decision (Split)+9WinShin Haraguchi2024-08-23 | Decision (Split)+13WinTatsuya Ando2024-05-18 | Decision (Unanimous)+16WinHuwannixi Wusikenbieke2023-10-01 | TKO (Punches)+9Kangjie Zhu quick answers
What is Kangjie Zhu's record?
Kangjie Zhu's professional MMA record is 21-5-0.
How old is Kangjie Zhu?
Kangjie Zhu is 30 years old.
What weight class is Kangjie Zhu?
Kangjie Zhu fights at Featherweight in UFC.
How tall is Kangjie Zhu?
Kangjie Zhu is 5'8" tall with a 70" reach.
How much does Kangjie Zhu weigh?
Kangjie Zhu competes at Featherweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 146 lbs.
What is Kangjie Zhu's Combat Edge Elo?
Kangjie Zhu's Combat Edge Elo is 1690, with a peak Elo of 1703.
How strong is Kangjie Zhu's recent opposition?
Kangjie Zhu's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1560 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Kangjie Zhu's last fight?
Kangjie Zhu's latest tracked pro fight was against Rodrigo Vera at UFC Fight Night on May 30 2026.
What is Kangjie Zhu's recent form?
Kangjie Zhu's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Kangjie Zhu usually win?
Kangjie Zhu's 21 recorded wins include 12 knockouts, 0 submissions, and 9 decisions, with 57% ending before the final bell.
12Wins by knockout
0Wins by submission
9Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
3Loss by decision
Kangjie Zhu stats
Record : 21 / 5 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
2.89Fighter3.25Division average
Significant striking accuracy
48%Fighter44%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
1.33Fighter4.02Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
70%Fighter54%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0.33Fighter1.61Division average
Takedown accuracy
100%Fighter36%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
51%Fighter50%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.58Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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