By The Numbers: Lipeng Zhang vs. Ruslan Emilbek Uulu

With real estate at a premium in the line that has formed behind incumbent One Championship lightweight titleholder Rae Yoon Ok, no one can afford a misstep.

Another would-be contender could throw his name in the hat when “The Ultimate Fighter China” winner Lipeng Zhang toes the line against the once-beaten Ruslan Emilbek Uulu in a featured attraction at One Championship “Only the Brave” this Friday at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Zheng, 31, enters the cage on the strength of back-to-back victories. He last appeared at One Championship “Battleground 2” on July 30, when he took a unanimous decision from Eduard Folayang. Emilbek Uulu, meanwhile, carries an attention-grabbing 13-1 record. He last competed at One Championship “NextGen 3” on Oct. 29, when he was awarded a unanimous verdict over Pieter Buist.

As Zhang and Emilbek Uulu move ever closer to their confrontation, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:

9: Emilbek Uulu wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission, accounting for 69% of his career total (13). His list of victims includes current Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Nuerdanbieke Shayilan. Uulu submitted Shayilan with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their November 2018 encounter.

97: Seconds needed for Emilbek Uulu to put away Batu Saiyin with a rear-naked choke under the Chin Woo Men MMA Professional League banner on Jan. 7, 2017. Having occurred in his third professional appearance, it remains the fastest finish of his 14-fight career.

17: Rounds completed by Emilbek Uulu as a mixed martial artist. He has put his fate in the hands of the judges on four occasions and sports a perfect 4-0 record in those bouts.

7: Promotions in which Emilbek Uulu has plied his trade in MMA. He has gone 6-0 in the Chin Woo Men MMA Professional League, 2-0 in the World Ertaymash Federation, 1-1 in One Championship, 1-0 in Australian Fighting Championship, 1-0 in Absolute Championship Akhmat, 1-0 the Chinese Kung Fu Championships and 1-0 in Boji Wang.

22: Zhang victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, accounting for 71% of his career total (31). His list of victims includes Bagautdin Abasov, Ivica Truscek, Adam Boussif and Leandro Rodrigues Pontes. Zhang put away Pontes with punches in the first round of their January 2017 pairing, as he claimed the Kunlun Fight welterweight championship.

12: Calendar years in which Zhang has fought at least once. He went 2-1 in 2009, 1-1 in 2010, 1-1-1 in 2011, 2-3 in 2012, 1-1 in 2013, 2-0 in 2014, 4-2 in 2015, 7-0 in 2016, 6-1 in 2017, 3-1 in 2018, 1-0-1 in 2019 and 1-0 in 2021.

2: Draws on the Zheng resume. He fought to a three-round stalemate with Aziz Pahrudinov at Top of the Forbidden City 7 on Oct. 8, 2011 and did the same with Ednilson de Jose Barros at Kunlun Fight 81 on July 27, 2019.

.672: Cumulative winning percentage between the 10 men—Rodrigo Caporal (twice), Kajan Johnson, Chris Wade, Elnur Agaev, Chris Garcia, Marcos Yoshio Souza, Arthit Hanchana, Gadji Zaipulaev, Tony Rossini and Claes Beverlov—who have defeated Zhang. They boast a combined record of 127-61-1.