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UFC Macau: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo continues on the prelims with a fight between Kangjie Zhu and Rodrigo Vera within the featherweight division on Saturday. Take a look at our UFC odds series for our Zhu-Vera prediction and pick.
Kangjie Zhu (21-4) has been on a tear recently. He claimed the Road to UFC Season 3 featherweight tournament title with a split decision over Xie Bin in May 2025, then earned his official UFC contract. His March 2026 UFC debut against Marcio Barbosa was canceled after Zhu suffered a broken nose, keeping him off the shelf, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Rodrigo Vera.
Rodrigo Vera (21-1) picked up back-to-back unanimous decision victories in 2025, first stopping Joao Oliveira at Shooto Brazil 131 in August and Jonathan Caetano at LFA 209 in May, as he makes his highly anticipated UFC debut this weekend against Kangjie Zhu.
UFC Macau Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Macau Odds: Kangjie Zhu-Rodrigo Vera Odds
Kangjie Zhu: -105
Rodrigo Vera: -115
Over 2.5 rounds: -270
Under 2.5 rounds: +200
Why Kangjie Zhu Will Win
Kangjie Zhu enters UFC Macau with a five-fight winning streak and the house crowd firmly behind him, which shouldn’t be underestimated as a psychological edge. Fighting in China, “The Hypnotist” has proven repeatedly that he thrives in big moments, having won your entire Road to UFC Season 3 featherweight tournament.
Zhu is a well-rounded threat who can hurt you standing or drag you to the mat, as his power striking and brutal slam game have been on full display throughout his profession. His nickname “One Punch Man” is not any accident, he carries legitimate knockout power that keeps opponents on the back foot from the opening bell.
Vera, for all his credentials, is walking into the UFC for the very first time, and debut jitters in a hostile environment are real. The pressure of a packed Chinese crowd cheering against you is an element that simply can’t be replicated on regional circuits in South America.
Zhu’s experience gap can be significant, at 21-4, he has been tested at a far higher level than Vera’s regional circuit résumé suggests. When the moment gets big, expect Zhu’s championship pedigree and ending instincts to be the difference-maker.
Why Rodrigo Vera Will Win
Rodrigo “El Gato Loco” Vera arrives at UFC Macau with a near-perfect 21-1-1 record and a 13-fight winning streak that speaks for itself. Coming in because the hungrier fighter making his long-awaited UFC debut, Vera has every part to prove and nothing to lose, a dangerous combination.
The Peruvian is widely thought to be a highly technical grappler with sharp submission awareness, making him a nightmare matchup for a striker like Zhu who likes to initiate the clinch and slam. If Vera can neutralize Zhu’s takedown game and control positioning, he wins the fight on the bottom or back on the feet.
Vera’s 13-fight win streak also shows mental toughness and consistency at a level that extends far beyond a regional fluke. He has been fighting elite competition in Latin America, winning title fights on the largest stages available to him, and that championship experience will translate.
Zhu’s 4 profession losses are also a red flag, he has been finished before, and Vera’s well-rounded ending ability could expose those self same vulnerabilities. With fresh legs, superior grappling pedigree, and a chip on his shoulder as a UFC newcomer, “El Gato Loco” is primed to make an unforgettable statement as he comes into his fight this weekend against Kangjie Zhu.
Final Kangjie Zhu-Rodrigo Vera Prediction & Pick
That is an enchanting clash of styles, a dangerous Chinese knockout artist with home-crowd energy against a near-perfect Peruvian grappler making his UFC debut. Each fighters bring legitimate credentials, however the edge ultimately goes to the person who has already proven he belongs at this level.
Zhu’s power striking and slam game will probably be on full display early, as he looks to ascertain his physicality and feed off the electrical Macau crowd. Vera will have to be sharp from the opening bell, using his footwork and grappling to neutralize Zhu’s biggest weapons.
Expect Vera to have his moments and test Zhu within the grappling exchanges, but Zhu’s ending instincts and tournament-tested composure will probably be the difference. The house crowd, the UFC experience advantage, and Zhu’s knockout power make him the pick here.
Final Kangjie Zhu-Rodrigo Vera Prediction & Pick: Kangjie Zhu (-105), Under 2.5 Rounds (+200)
UFC Macau: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo continues on the prelims with a fight between Kangjie Zhu and Rodrigo Vera within the featherweight division on Saturday. Take a look at our UFC odds series for our Zhu-Vera prediction and pick. Kangjie Zhu (21-4) has been on a tear recently.