UFC Fight Night: Walker vs Zhang hits the Shanghai Indoor Stadium this Saturday, August 23, at 07:00 GMT. One of the undercard bouts worth circling is Hayisaer Maheshate vs Gauge Young. We’re looking at two lightweights with everything to prove: Maheshate needs to convince the home crowd he belongs in the UFC, while Young is chasing his first official win in the big leagues. Translation? Expect grit, swings, and possibly a finish.
Chinese Reach vs Midwest Power
Hayisaer Maheshate
- Nickname: N/A
- Born: December 1, 1999 (25, China)
- Height: 6’0’’ (1.83 m)
- Weight: 155 lbs (70kg)
- Reach: 71.5’’ in (182 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Professional Record: 10-4-0
Maheshate has the size and reach for lightweight, but sometimes fights like he forgets those gifts exist. He mixes striking and grappling well enough, but his biggest problem is defense: he just doesn’t move his head. Combine that with a chin that has already been cracked, and you can see why bettors hesitate to back him with confidence. His striking accuracy, a painful 29%, means he’s throwing plenty but landing like he’s shadowboxing. Still, he has fought tougher competition than Young, and doing this in front of a home crowd adds motivation. But motivation doesn’t protect your chin.
Gauge Young
- Nickname: “Gee Money”
- Born: July 14, 2000 (25, USA)
- Height: 5’9’’ (1.75 m)
- Weight: 155 lbs (70kg)
- Reach: 70’’ (178 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Professional Record: 9-3-0
Young isn’t a technician, he’s a scrapper. He prefers to stand and bang, with 67% of his wins by KO. He showed real toughness in his UFC debut against Evan Elder, taking the fight on short notice and still landing heavy shots despite eating plenty in return. The downside? His defense is porous, and he absorbs damage willingly, which is never a sustainable strategy. But you can’t overlook his grit and willingness to press forward, even when outgunned. If nothing else, Young will test Maheshate’s durability in a way the home favorite won’t like.
Betting Prediction: Who Has the Edge?
Hayisaer Maheshate vs Gauge Young is the type of fight oddsmakers love: the “established but flawed” UFC talent against the “hungry underdog with a puncher’s chance.” On paper, Maheshate has the better résumé and the comfort of fighting in Shanghai. In practice, his leaky defense and shaky chin are a bad mix against someone like Young, who doesn’t need many clean shots to end the night.
My lean: Gauge Young by KO/TKO. It’s risky, travel and inexperience are legitimate red flags, but stylistically, Young’s pressure and power make him the live dog here. Maheshate’s chin to hold up is like trusting a screen door in a hurricane, possible, but not advisable. So, if you’re looking to profit from this clash, those who open an account at the best betting software should have Young’s KO line bookmarked. Styles make fights, and this one screams brawler’s delight. Don’t let the reach fool you, this is Young’s fight to end inside the distance.
