Nghiem Van Y was the underdog against Lui in pre-fight betting odds. Y, born in 1999, is 3 years younger than Lui. Both stand at 1.7 m tall, but Lui's reach of 1.83 m gives him a 9 cm advantage over Y. Both fighters entered the bout with identical professional MMA records of six wins and one loss.

In the quarterfinals, Nghiem Van Y defeated the taller Japanese fighter Rui Imura by technical knockout. To prepare for this semifinal, Nghiem Van Y trained in Thailand for a month. He also had the opportunity to learn from the reigning UFC featherweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili. "No one can stop me. I am very confident in this weight class right now," Y said before the fight. "With Vietnamese blood flowing through me, I crave a UFC contract."

Nghiem Van Y (left) competing at Road to UFC. Photo: UFC

Nghiem Van Y (left) competing at Road to UFC. Photo: UFC

Meanwhile, Lui defeated Chinese home favorite Zhang Qinghe by unanimous decision. Lui's strengths were identified as his ability to absorb punishment and his preference for low kicks targeting his opponent's legs. However, the 29-year-old fighter's movement was noted to be less agile, and he was not considered strong in ground fighting. Lui has been training with UFC veterans like Dan Hooker and Brad Riddell at City Kickboxing, one of the best MMA clubs in the world in recent years.

Held at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, the fight was contested over 3 five-minute rounds. Y dominated the first round with his agile movement, leg kicks, and powerful punches, reddening Lui's legs and ribs. Lui opted for a defensive strategy, landing one good counterpunch.

In the second round, Lui committed a foul with a knee near Y's groin, forcing the referee to briefly halt the match. The momentum suggested that if Y avoided any significant blows, he could at least secure a victory by points. However, Lui's strategy seemed to be to get close enough for a takedown before exploiting an opening.

Lui seized his opportunity when he cornered Y against the cage and delivered a right punch directly to Y's chin. Y was stunned and fell. Lui immediately pounced, gaining a mount position and unleashing a flurry of punches, hammer fists, and elbows. The referee quickly intervened, ending the match and awarding Lui the victory by technical knockout.

Nghiem Van Y (left) at the weigh-in and face-off with Lawrence Lui (right) in Shanghai on 21/8/2025. Photo: UFC

Nghiem Van Y (left) at the weigh-in and face-off with Lawrence Lui (right) in Shanghai on 21/8/2025. Photo: UFC

The chin and jaw area are considered critical vulnerabilities for fighters. A sufficiently powerful blow delivered at the right angle to this area can cause the opponent's head to rotate abruptly, directly impacting the brain and leading to loss of consciousness.

In the post-fight interview, Lui explained that Nghiem Van Y was faster, so he spent the first round assessing him and implementing his pre-determined game plan. "I predicted he would tire in the second round and reveal an opening to finish the fight," Lui said in the octagon. "Everything went exactly as we had trained."

Nghiem Van Y will have to wait for another chance to sign a contract with the world's largest mixed martial arts organization at next year's Road to UFC event. Lawrence Lui will advance to the featherweight final to face the winner of the Sim Kai Xiong (Singapore) – Sulang Rangbo (China) matchup.

Road to UFC 2025 is the fourth season of the tournament. The event is designed for top Asian MMA fighters to compete for official UFC contracts. The four weight classes featured are flyweight (under 57 kg), bantamweight (57 to 61 kg), featherweight (61 to 66 kg), and lightweight (66 to 70 kg).

Nghiem Van Y is a prominent figure in Vietnamese martial arts. Born into a farming family in Bac Giang, he found his passion in wushu. His most notable achievement was a bronze medal in the 60 kg sanda division at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

In June 2022, Y transitioned to amateur MMA and within 3 months turned professional at Lion Championship (LC), the largest MMA organization in Vietnam. After his third victory, Y won the LC 65 kg title in November 2022. In December 2023, Y lost the title to Brazilian fighter Felipe Negochadle by submission. A year later, he defeated the same opponent by technical knockout to reclaim the title, which he currently holds.

Subsequently, Nghiem Van Y accepted the invitation to compete in Road to UFC. He became the first Vietnamese fighter trained domestically to participate in this competition.

Hieu Luong