Lee Jeong-yeong

2-2
Record
Age / DOB 30
(Nov 13, 1995)
Height 5' 10"
Weight 145 lbs.
Reach 73"
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages
3.38 Sig. Strikes / Min
49.0% Sig. Strike Acc.
3.82 Absorbed / Min
50.0% Strike Defense
0.63 TD Avg / 15 min
66.0% TD Accuracy
72.0% TD Defense
0.3 Sub. / Fight
Win Methods (2)
KO/TKO 0
Submission 0
Decision 2
Loss Methods (2)
KO/TKO 1
Submission 0
Decision 1

Fight History

Result / Opponent
Event & Date
Method/Round
Links
Comments
UFC 326
Mar 07, 2026
Expert Picks (10)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 8, 2026 (27 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Angelo likes Gaston Bolanos' striking and aggression but notes his grappling holes. He picks Ju Sung Yu (Lee Jeong-yeong) because he is more fluid, has solid striking, and can mix in takedowns. He believes Yu can dance around, squeeze in a takedown, and keep Gaston guessing.

"Jussier Formiga has got to be the pick here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Big Brady picks Lee Jeong-yeong over Gastón Bolaños. He criticizes Bolaños' cardio and ground game, noting he has been submitted three times and finished in four of five losses. Lee is solid everywhere, with good cardio and a clinch advantage. Brady expects Lee to push the pace, slow Bolaños down, and win by decision or late finish. He doesn't love the -260 price but sees Lee getting the job done.

Lee by decision
"I like Lee here. Um I don't love the minus 260, but I think he goes out there and gets the job to him."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Cody picks Lee, citing his better boxing, cardio, and grappling. He notes Bolaños' square stance, slow speed, and lack of wrestling. He expects Lee to win by knockout or decision.

"Jung Young Lee, I'll admit... I got confidence in this kid."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Connor picks Lee because Bolaños has glaring defensive weaknesses in his striking, which is supposed to be his A game. He notes that Bolaños backs up in straight lines and shells up, making him vulnerable to a bigger brawler like Lee. Lee is a mindless brawler who will happily trade shots, and his size advantage should be decisive.

"I'm kind of tempted to pick, I think I'm picking Lee actually. I just think Blondos is not a fixable technician."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Lee Jeong-yeong, calling this a perfect rebound fight. He criticizes Gastón Bolaños's poor UFC performances and believes Lee's striking and showmanship will overwhelm him. Vreeland expects a finish or a dominant decision.

"I think John Young Lee is going to school Gaston Bologanos and I think this is Bologano's last UFC fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

James picks Lee Jeong-yeong, believing he is the better striker with more power and accuracy. He notes that Bolaños is not UFC caliber and lacks wrestling upside, while Lee is coming off a tough fight but should dominate this step down in competition. James predicts a knockout win for Lee.

"I think Junyong Lee gets back on track in this one, boys."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Lee is a better striker with superior speed, power, and straight shots. Bolaños has shown flat performances and grappling vulnerabilities. Lee should outstrike Bolaños and win on the scorecards. The over is also a decent plus money spot.

over at plus money
"I think Lee is a better striker in terms of establishing his dominance, his speed, his power, his straight shots down the pipe."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Paul agrees, picking Lee. He notes Bolaños' poor takedown defense and inability to handle pressure. He expects Lee to win by decision or TKO.

"Lee's getting right back up and it's just like, okay, maybe he shoots four."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Gastón Bolaños

The MMA Guru picks Gastón Bolaños, citing Lee's big head as a durability issue. He believes Bolaños is more durable and composed, and that Lee's fights often go to competitive decisions. He expects Bolaños to do more damage and win a decision.

"I'm going to go with Gaston Balanos here. I think he'll do more damage and he'll hold up durabilitywise over a three round decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Zane agrees with Lee, noting that Bolaños has only beaten bad MMA fighters and has not developed his game. He thinks Lee's size and brawling style will overwhelm Bolaños, who struggles when pressured. He also notes that the odds are too wide given Bolaños' sharp striking when allowed to work.

Odds are too wide; Bolaños is a sharp striker when allowed to work.
"I'm taking Lee. See odds on the fights. Right. Lee opened at minus 300, currently minus 350. Blondos opened it plus 250 currently plus 285. I mean, that's too wide."
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Daniel Santos 0 90 of 184 48% 119 of 213 6 of 18 33% 0 0 6:06
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 68 of 150 45% 107 of 190 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Daniel Santos 0 33 of 78 42% 40 of 85 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:07
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 35 of 61 57% 35 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Daniel Santos 0 39 of 67 58% 51 of 79 3 of 5 60% 0 0 2:28
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 20 of 52 38% 48 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Daniel Santos 0 18 of 39 46% 28 of 49 3 of 8 37% 0 0 2:31
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 13 of 37 35% 24 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Daniel Santos 90 of 184 48% 59 of 136 18 of 30 13 of 18 82 of 174 1 of 2 7 of 8
Lee Jeong-yeong 68 of 150 45% 40 of 112 16 of 24 12 of 14 65 of 145 3 of 4 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Daniel Santos 33 of 78 42% 20 of 53 6 of 13 7 of 12 33 of 78 0 of 0 0 of 0
Lee Jeong-yeong 35 of 61 57% 16 of 39 10 of 11 9 of 11 34 of 59 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Daniel Santos 39 of 67 58% 25 of 51 9 of 11 5 of 5 33 of 60 0 of 0 6 of 7
Lee Jeong-yeong 20 of 52 38% 13 of 39 4 of 10 3 of 3 20 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Daniel Santos 18 of 39 46% 14 of 32 3 of 6 1 of 1 16 of 36 1 of 2 1 of 1
Lee Jeong-yeong 13 of 37 35% 11 of 34 2 of 3 0 of 0 11 of 34 2 of 3 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Daniel Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lee (-115), Santos (-105)

Round 1
Moving right along, “Willycat” Santos (12-2, 2-1 UFC) gets a chance to go on a three-fight win streak if he can get past Lee (11-2, 2-1 UFC) in one of the few preliminary matches not featuring a Canuck. Both of these featherweights sport similar finish rates in the 65% range, which means referee Marc Goddard might be needed before all is said and done. There is a sporting glove touch to get going, and they get right to smacking one another in the lead leg. When Lee comes in to strike, Santos goes for a spinning back kick that whizzes past his foe. They let go with low kicks, and then trade punches. Santos lifts his foot up and around the shoulder, and he just blocks a returning high kick in the nick of time. Lee whiffs on an overhand right, and Santos counters with several body shots. Lee presses forward, and he eats a few more right hands to the midsection. Lee knocks Santos off his feet with a blistering right hand, and Santos leaps back up and grabs hold of Lee’s leg. Rather than get the takedown, he keeps moving and takes Lee’s back standing up. The Brazilian pushes his foe against the fence from behind, and Lee is warned for grabbing the fence to stay upright when Santos tries to wrench him down. Santos does get his man down for a second, and Lee springs back up and lets his hands go. Santos checks a leg kick and looses a right hand, and Lee responds with a jab to split the guard. Lee lands another hard jab, and this time Santos gives him something back to think about in the form of a right hand, a spinning wheel kick and several more body shots. Santos chains punches to the body and head, and Lee stands firm and knocks him back a step with a one-two. They throw body kicks at the same time, and Lee attacks the liver with his left hand. Santos has a wheel kick bounce off the raised guard, and he pushes forward and chains several punches together. Lee is not about to let him off the hook, and he cracks the Brazilian with a left hook that staggers Santos. “Willycat” gathers his thoughts, and chants for Lee rain down. Santos unloads a right hand that sends Lee flying, and Lee spins around and recovers while throwing back with bad intentions. These two let one another have it with violent body shots, and Santos pushes forward to pursue a single-leg takedown. Santos bails on it for a wheel kick try, and this intense round comes to a close. Judges will have their hands full with their tallies here.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lee

Round 2
The fighters hug it out to start off the second round, and Santos immediately gets going with a chain of punches to the body. Lee strikes back with a vengeance, and fists fly every which way as both men nail one another. Santos picks his man up and throws him down, and he jams his knee in the chest before Lee can stand. Lee fights out of a rear-naked choke setup and surges back to his feet, where Santos is ready and waiting for him so they can throw hands. Santos gets off a few punches to set up a takedown, where he drags the Korean fighter to his seat. Santos laces his legs around Lee’s to keep him grounded, and the action-spoiled fans start booing almost immediately. Lee uses elbows to frame off and score a little to open up a wall-walk escape. Santos opens up with punches as soon as he gets upright, and when Lee responds, Santos leaps in the air with a flying knee. Santos starts slapping Lee’s lead leg with kick after kick until Lee sets up checks, and this only allows the Brazilian to take him down again. Lee maintains butterfly hooks as soon as he hits his back on the open cage, and Santos does not mind as he postures up and hammers Lee with ground-and-pound. Lee attempts to strike back, but Santos’ blows are far more effective. Lee kicks off Santos’ chest to get some space, where he is able to stand back up despite Santos charging at him. The Brazilian pushes his foe to the wall, and he nails him with a left hand on the break to open a cut on the corner of Lee’s right eye. Lee swings back just as hard as ever, although he appears to be all power while Santos is more interested in combinations. In a phone booth, the two featherweights let another have it with power punches. Santos ducks one to set up a clinch, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 3
After 10 blood-and-guts minutes, the two share a longer embrace before trying to smash the other in the face. Unsurprisingly, smash the other in the face is exactly what they do. Santos leads off, Lee fires back, and Santos level changes. Lee throws his legs up on the way down to set up a triangle choke, only for Santos to shift to the side and position himself in side control as he establishes himself on top. The action slows down as Santos takes several breaths, and he slashes with an elbow or two until Lee scrambles. Lee turns to his knees and stands up, and Santos lifts him up from behind and deposits him right back to the floor. Lee once more jumps upright, shimmies to get Santos off his back, and they reset in striking range. Lee flashes out his jab, and Santos lets go with a front kick that pushes past the chin. Lee doubles up on his jab, putting a two behind it and driving Santos back. Santos kicks low, and Lee jabs again and again. Santos’ winging punches are more telegraphed than before, and his spin is equally inaccurate when Lee watches it go by. Santos shoots for a double-leg takedown as he pushes Lee to the wall, but Lee breaks off and eats a clean right hand on the jaw. Lee throws back, but Santos is the more accurate and harder puncher at the moment. Santos goes to the body with a kick, dodges a body shot and shoots from a distance on Lee’s left leg. Santos lifts his foe’s limb up and trips the other out, throwing Lee down in an interesting high-amplitude maneuver. Lee flinches when hitting the ground, appearing a bit frustrated at getting grounded. On a lull, Lee pushes off and stands up, and he motions for Santos to bring it on. Lee stalks his foe down and jabs him, and he measures an uppercut when Santos shoots for a single. When Santos abandons the takedown, he fires off a head kick that pounds into the guard. “Willycat” escapes the remainder of the confrontation, disappointing the fans in the building for not going for broke with seconds to go. The fight ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)

The Official Result
Daniel Santos def. Jeong Yeong Lee via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 4, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Angelo picks Jung Young Lee because Daniel Santos is stepping up on short notice and has holes in his game, particularly takedown defense. He believes Lee can weather Santos' early storm, get takedowns, and avoid submissions off his back. Angelo notes the odds have moved from -170 to -135 for Santos, indicating the public is realizing Santos isn't a world beater. He thinks Lee's full camp and ability to grapple give him the edge.

"I am going to go with Jungy Young Lee here just because of the chaos that Daniel Santos brings early. I do think that'll fade and I don't think he'll defend the takedowns."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Big Brady is skeptical Daniel Santos will even show up due to his history of pulling out. He notes Santos is moving up a weight class, has been inactive for two years, and is inaccurate on the feet. He favors Lee Jeong-yeong's size, reach, power, and takedown defense. He predicts a decision win for Lee, but acknowledges either could land a big shot.

"I got to lean the Jungy Young Lee side here. So, I like Jungy Lee. ... I'll take him to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

The host notes significant line movement on Lee from +160 to -115, which he finds justifiable. He views Lee as the slicker and better striker who has learned from his last fight to be more reserved. He expects Lee to counter-strike effectively, shut down Santos's grappling, and win on the scorecards.

Line movement from +160 to -115
"We've seen tremendous line movement on Lee over the last few days, who has gone from plus 160 down to the minus 115 favorite."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

The MMA Guru picks Lee, trusting his initial instinct that Lee's size and power will be too much for Santos, who is moving up from bantamweight. He notes Lee's reach advantage and Santos' inactivity and history of being hurt. He predicts a TKO, as Santos may struggle with the size discrepancy.

TKO
"I'm going to go with Jong Yong Lee. I'm not doubting my initial response of my brain. I'm going with Jong Yong Lee."
Loss
TKO (punches) R1 1:05
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hyder Amil 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 42 of 63 66% 42 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hyder Amil 0 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 42 of 63 66% 42 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hyder Amil 4 of 10 40% 3 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Lee Jeong-yeong 42 of 63 66% 37 of 54 2 of 3 3 of 6 42 of 63 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hyder Amil 4 of 10 40% 3 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Lee Jeong-yeong 42 of 63 66% 37 of 54 2 of 3 3 of 6 42 of 63 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Hyder Amil vs. Jeong Yeong Lee
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lee (-185), Amil (+154)

Round 1
Bumped up to the main card due to some Friday card changes, Road to UFC Season 2 pickup Lee (11-1, 2-0 UFC) gets to show his stuff on ESPN. He will trade blows with Gilbert Melendez-trained Amil (9-0, 1-0 UFC), whose unbeaten record is on the line. Win streaks of eight and nine, respectively, will meet, and referee Mark Smith will handle the particulars. The surging featherweights do not touch ‘em up, with Lee racing out of his corner only to be met with a snappy front kick. Lee barely blocks the strike in time and gets clipped with a right hand when coming forward. Lee pushes forward with a front kick, and the two decide that it would be in their best interest to start brawling. Amil gets his bell rung during the wild exchange and backs off, and he clears his head and gets right back to it. The two throw everything they have at one another, blasting one another so violently that commentator Daniel Cormier starts squeaking.
“The Hurricane” unleashes an incredible storm of offense, swinging with hook after devastating hook to bat Lee’s head around like a 145-pound speed bag. Lee tries feebly to throw back, and he manages to connect with some, but Amil is not about to stop throwing. After about three dozen ridiculous punches wreck Lee, who is leaning against the cage wall to keep himself upright, Smith rushes between them to call off the fight.
Lee does not protest, as he is teetering on the edge of consciousness after absorbing so many hellacious blows in such a short span. Amil peels back and celebrates his handiwork that took just over a minute, pushing his record to 10-0 and putting the entire division on notice. What a way to practically guarantee yourself a post-fight bonus. After the fight concludes, commentator Laura Sanko admits that the fight "broke her pants." Imagine that as you will.

The Official Result
Hyder Amil def. Jeong Yeong Lee R1 1:05 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Angelo picks Lee Jeong-yeong because he is the more complete fighter with better wrestling, cleaner striking, and explosiveness. He notes that Hyder Amil is undefeated but untested, and Lee can keep the fight technical and use his length. He expects the fight to go the distance and plans to bet the over on round lines.

expects fight to go distance, will bet over on round lines
"I do think this goes the distance I think we got a couple of guys that are going to going back and forth some success on this side some success on that side ultimately though with Lee winning this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Cody picks Amil, praising his relentless pace, wrestling, and durability. He criticizes Lee for being green and unimpressive, noting Lee's split decision win in the Road to UFC final and his lack of power or volume. He thinks Amil will overwhelm Lee with pressure and volume, and he placed a bet on Amil at +175.

"I like Hydra me yeah."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Daniel Vreeland picks Hyder Amil as an upset, citing Amil's high output and pressure. He is not sold on Lee, noting Lee's low strike output and slow pace. Vreeland believes Amil can drag Lee into deep waters and break him in the later rounds, possibly by TKO.

"I'm gonna go hayder aill here man like I am not sold on Jong Young Lee yet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Amil is a +155 underdog. He has relentless pressure, endless takedowns, and excellent cardio. Lee is the better striker but may fade as Amil continues to push the pace and take damage. Amil's ability to stay in his opponent's face and grind them down could lead to a decision win or a late finish. I see this fight closer to 50/50 than the odds suggest.

third round finish prop if available
"I see this fight closer to a 50/50 rather than as heavy have a favorite asra seeing Jung Lee at around that minus 200 range"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Hyder Amil

Paul agrees with Cody, citing Amil's volume and wrestling background. He thinks the fight will be competitive but that Amil's pace will be too much for Lee. He also notes the line movement and thinks Amil offers value.

"I'm with you there on haer aill."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

The MMA Guru picks Lee Jeong-yeong, calling it a dangerous fight for him. He notes Hyder Amil is undefeated and big for the division, but believes Lee has a massive finishing advantage early. He compares Lee's offensive grappling favorably to Amil's and cites Lee's youth (28) and win streak. He suggests live odds on Amil if the fight goes late due to Lee's tendency to slow down.

maybe if we see this go towards the late second there might be some live odds to bet on Hyer raill
"I'm going to side with Jong Yung Le plus he's got a lot of time to improve as a fighter as well"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 49 of 82 59% 75 of 121 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:29
Blake Bilder 0 19 of 54 35% 36 of 77 0 of 3 0% 0 0 5:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 19 of 29 65% 31 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Blake Bilder 0 8 of 25 32% 9 of 27 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:23
2 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 20 of 32 62% 32 of 51 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:26
Blake Bilder 0 6 of 22 27% 15 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:55
3 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 10 of 21 47% 12 of 25 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:03
Blake Bilder 0 5 of 7 71% 12 of 15 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lee Jeong-yeong 49 of 82 59% 33 of 62 14 of 18 2 of 2 21 of 40 11 of 11 17 of 31
Blake Bilder 19 of 54 35% 3 of 27 2 of 5 14 of 22 8 of 40 10 of 13 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lee Jeong-yeong 19 of 29 65% 11 of 18 7 of 10 1 of 1 12 of 22 7 of 7 0 of 0
Blake Bilder 8 of 25 32% 0 of 10 0 of 2 8 of 13 4 of 21 4 of 4 0 of 0
2 Lee Jeong-yeong 20 of 32 62% 14 of 26 5 of 5 1 of 1 5 of 10 3 of 3 12 of 19
Blake Bilder 6 of 22 27% 1 of 14 0 of 1 5 of 7 3 of 17 3 of 5 0 of 0
3 Lee Jeong-yeong 10 of 21 47% 8 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 8 1 of 1 5 of 12
Blake Bilder 5 of 7 71% 2 of 3 2 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 2 3 of 4 1 of 1
Expert Picks (6)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jan 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Blake Bilder

Angelo picks Blake Bilder as an underdog, citing size advantage and pressure. He notes that Bilder can bully the smaller Lee if he pressures forward and stays busy. He acknowledges Lee's danger and grappling but believes Bilder can squeak out a win.

"I do like him as an underdog here... I think Builder can bully him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Blake Bilder

Big Brady picks Blake Bilder to win by third-round submission. He notes that Lee is dangerous early with power and a sneaky submission game, but his cardio is questionable and he slows down. Bilder is tough as nails, often drops first rounds but builds into the fight. Brady expects Lee to hurt Bilder in the first round, but Bilder will take over and finish him in the third. He suggests live betting Bilder.

third round, submission, live betting Bilder
"I think Builder is going to take over as the fight goes on and I think he's going to break Lee here and I think he's going to finish him in the third round by submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Cody picks Lee, citing Bilder's poor takedown accuracy and suspect chin. He notes Lee's explosiveness and power, and thinks Lee can catch Bilder coming forward. He acknowledges Bilder's grit but sees Lee as the more likely winner.

"I will take Lee"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Lee is fully healthy now and has improved his wrestling, which should allow him to stop Bilder's takedowns. Lee's length and striking advantage should be decisive, and he is expected to win by TKO within the first 10 minutes. Bilder has a tendency to get demoralized if his takedowns don't work.

"I think Lee has a ton of potential and at 28 years old and apparently fully healthy now this guy has a rocket pretty much strapped to his back."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Paul picks Lee, noting Bilder's disappointing performances and lack of finishing instinct. He thinks Lee's power and aggression can get the job done, though he's not fully confident in the price.

"I'm going to go with Lee here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

The MMA Guru picks Lee Jeong-yeong over Blake Bilder, predicting a first-round TKO. He criticizes Bilder's standup, noting he leaves his chin high. He likes Lee's performance on Road to UFC and believes there is a gap in skill, especially in round one. He also notes Bilder made a competitive fight with Shane Young, which he sees as a negative.

first round TKO
"I'm gonna go with Jong Yong Lee over Blake Builder... I will go with Kong yyong Lee getting a first round TKO."
Win
Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Lee Jeong-yeong 0 25 of 57 43% 66 of 105 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:50
Yi Zha 0 24 of 58 41% 37 of 74 5 of 21 23% 0 0 8:19
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 3 of 6 50% 27 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Yi Zha 0 3 of 3 100% 8 of 11 1 of 5 20% 0 0 4:15
2 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 12 of 31 38% 18 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Yi Zha 0 9 of 28 32% 12 of 31 2 of 7 28% 0 0 1:19
3 Lee Jeong-yeong 0 10 of 20 50% 21 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Yi Zha 0 12 of 27 44% 17 of 32 2 of 9 22% 0 0 2:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Lee Jeong-yeong 25 of 57 43% 18 of 50 7 of 7 0 of 0 18 of 49 7 of 8 0 of 0
Yi Zha 24 of 58 41% 17 of 48 6 of 9 1 of 1 13 of 46 7 of 7 4 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Lee Jeong-yeong 3 of 6 50% 1 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 2 3 of 4 0 of 0
Yi Zha 3 of 3 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Lee Jeong-yeong 12 of 31 38% 10 of 29 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 27 4 of 4 0 of 0
Yi Zha 9 of 28 32% 7 of 26 2 of 2 0 of 0 7 of 26 1 of 1 1 of 1
3 Lee Jeong-yeong 10 of 20 50% 7 of 17 3 of 3 0 of 0 10 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Yi Zha 12 of 27 44% 8 of 20 4 of 7 0 of 0 6 of 20 3 of 3 3 of 4
Expert Picks (5)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Big Brady highlights Lee's power and finishing ability, noting his quick finishes on Road to UFC. He thinks Yi Zha is uncomfortable on the feet and will be knocked out. He predicts a first-round knockout for Lee.

first round knockout
"I think Young Lee's going to knock this guy out I'll say it's early as well I think he knocks him out in the first round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Yi Zha

Cody picks Yi Zha as an underdog, noting his experience and wrestling advantage. He thinks Lee is untested and may struggle if taken down. He acknowledges Yi Zha's split decision win over Matsushima was controversial, but sees value at +210. He is not confident enough to bet but picks him for the show.

"I'm gonna take zai as my first Underdog on the card... I thought he lost the matsushima fight I thought she was decent"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Connor agrees, adding that Korean fighters tend to cut weight well and Lee is a big, solidly built featherweight. He notes that Yi Zha's wrestling is aimless and lacks physicality, and that Lee's size will make it difficult for Yi to get takedowns. He expects Lee to shrug off grappling and land punches consistently.

Odds: Lee opened -225, now -257; Yi opened +175, now +205.
"I think lee is going to be the one shrugging off the wrestling and and just trying to keep landing punches."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Paul picks Lee for the show but is not confident. He notes Lee's quick finishes and power, but has many question marks due to lack of tape. He thinks Yi Zha is a guard puller who loses positions, but the line is too high. He prefers to pass on betting.

"for the purposes of the show for people who track the uh the picks that we make I'll take the favorite in Lee"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Lee Jeong-yeong

Zane sees Lee as a prototypical Korean prospect who plants his feet and trades, confident in his ability to land punches while accepting hits. He notes that Yi Zha is a wrestle-grappler with poor athleticism and shot wrestling, and that Lee's size and physicality will allow him to shrug off takedowns and land punches. He believes Lee's takedown defense is sufficient because he is expecting everything.

Odds: Lee opened -225, now -257; Yi opened +175, now +205.
"I think this is a probably a pretty good matchup for jeongyeon lee."