Sherdog Prospect Watch: Ji Yong Yang

KO1 de Ji Yong Yang! #ARC003 pic.twitter.com/wSj9cAF0qz

— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) October 17, 2020

Ji Yong Yang did not blink when Rizin Fighting Federation officials asked him to headline Rizin 36 on Saturday at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, Japan, where the 26-year-old will make his promotional debut opposite former bantamweight champion Kai Asakura. He carries a perfect 4-0 record as he prepares to fight outside of his native South Korea. With the opponents Yang has faced thus far having compiled a .625 cumulative winning percentage (10-6), Asakura represents his most challenging test to date.

Yang has already shown his versality inside the cage with two finishes. He proved he could hold his own on the feet and on the canvas, authoring an 89-second technical knockout and a third-round submission in addition to two unanimous decisions.


Yang built up his physical strength on his family’s tangerine farm and approached the combat sports world as a kickboxer before moving to mixed martial arts. He made the transition look somewhat seamless in his first MMA bout, as he locked horns with Yi Sak Kim across three three-minute rounds under the Road Fighting Championship banner in July 2020. Yang appeared confident on the feet while stinging his opponent from afar, be he also displayed enough skill and guile to succeed when he had to grapple along the fence. He showed even more initiative once the action shifted to the floor, where he controlled and pummeled his counterpart for much of the second round. By the time it was over, it was clear the unanimous decision was his.


In his second pro bout three months later, Yang showcased his striking skills at the expense of Min Hyung Han and punched his way to a quick finish 1:29 into the first round. He then battled Jung Hyun Lee for 10 minutes before claiming a unanimous verdict at Road Fighting Championship 58 on July 3, 2021. Both men had their moments in a back-and-forth affair, which was marred by a few low blows. Ultimately, Yang’s superior technique prevailed.


Yang’s most recent outing saw him flash a dangerous submission game, as he forced Hyun Woo Kim to surrender to a third-round guillotine choke at Road 60 on May 14. Midway through Round 3, Kim exposed his neck while attempting an ill-advised slam. Yang did not allow him to complete the maneuver and instead countered with a guillotine. Kim tried to scramble free, even as his opportunistic adversary tightened his squeeze. Yang eventually moved into top position, where he maximized his leverage and prompted the tapout 2:03 into the third round.