Rong Zhu will face Austin Hubbard on the prelim card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event in Shanghai. Rong Zhu is fighting on home soil here after a win in his last fight. He will look to take down a UFC veteran in Hubbard who is trying to shake off some recent struggles. Before this fight starts, continue reading to get my Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard prediction.
Our Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard Pick
- Pick: Rong Zhu via decision
- Confidence: 4/5
- Bonus Bets For Fight Night: Use bet365 promo code ATSBONUS to bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets for this fight!
Tale of the Tape
| Rong Zhu | Austin Hubbard | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 25 | 33 |
| Reach | 71″ | 71″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 26-6-0 | 17-9-0 |
Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard Preview
Rong Zhu is just 25 years old but he already has a 26-6 record as a professional MMA fighter. This is his second stint in UFC. He fought three times in the promotion from 2021 to 2022 then returned in late 2024. Rong Zhu is known for his heavy hands and finishing ability. He has 16 knockouts and six submissions. He is dangerous both on his feet and on the ground.
The last Rong Zhu fight saw him bounce back from a loss in September to Chris Padilla with a unanimous decision victory over Kody Steele in February. His takedown accuracy is just under 63% and his striking accuracy is around 55%. That versatility could make him a tough matchup for Hubbard on Saturday in Shanghai.
Austin Hubbard is the more experienced fighter in terms of age here. But he is not the more experienced fighter in terms of the number of fights he’s had in his career. Hubbard is 16-9 with five knockouts and two submissions. He’s lost his last two fights by split decision. He is also in his second stint in UFC and has a record of 4-7 in the promotion overall.
Hubbard has lost three of his four fights since re-joining the UFC roster in 2023. To say that he needs a win in this fight would be an understatement. To get that win he will need to defend against both the striking and takedowns that Rong Zhu is capable of delivering.
Betting Insights
- Rong Zhu is a substantial favorite with odds of -258. Hubbard can be had at +210 as the underdog.
- The total for this fight is set at 2.5 rounds. The over is -260 and the under is +195. That implies an expectation of the fight going the distance.
- Hubbard has had three straight fights go to the judges.
Rong Zhu vs Austin Hubbard Prediction
Both of these fighters have plenty of experience despite the substantial age difference going into this matchup. But Rong Zhu has been a much better fighter than Austin Hubbard of late. I think that the Chinese fighter will get the win on home soil here in order to pick up his second straight victory. I recommend betting Rong Zhu by decision as Hubbard should take his third loss in a row.
