Haitao Ti (18-6) vs. Ryo Tajima (10-3)
Haitao Ti
Pros:
-Good jab
-Active ground and pound
-Credible jiu-jitsu
-Wrestles well
Cons:
-TDD needs work
-Grappling defense lacks
-Hands low
-Questionable chin
Ti was originally set to compete on last season’s Road to UFC but had to withdraw due to injury. Since then, he’s rebounded with two wins to earn his way back into the tournament, extending his current winning streak to six. In a different timeline, that could arguably be closer to twelve if his fight with Qinghe Zhang had gone a few more seconds in the opening round.
He’s a solid fighter overall, but his performances tend to swing heavily depending on how the fight is going. When things go well, he looks sharp—but when momentum shifts against him, they can go badly in a hurry. That’s reflected in his record: he’s been knocked out twice, submitted three times, and is only 1-1 in decisions.
On the feet, Ti has a functional jab and does a decent job managing range when he’s disciplined. However, he often keeps his hands low and can be hit too cleanly and too frequently for comfort. Defensively, that remains a clear concern.
He’s most effective in his wrestling. He’s much stronger in upper-body ties, where he can chain into takedowns and impose himself physically. Once on top, his ground-and-pound is his best weapon, and it frequently forces opponents into bad decisions—often leading to back exposure. That’s where a lot of his submission wins come from, with six victories via RNC after opponents turn away under pressure.
He’s not a complete walkover, but stylistically, he’s the kind of fighter who can be exploited depending on the matchup.
Ryo Tajima
Pros:
-Active ground and pound
-Submission threat
-Credible wrestling
Cons:
-Poor Cardio
-Poor striking defense
-Hands low
Tajima is a long-standing JMMA staple, a former Pancrase Neo Blood Tournament winner, and the current Pancrase bantamweight champion. He’s shown he can be an all-action fighter when he chooses, but he can also lean into a safer approach built around pressure and wrestling.
The flip side is that his versatility cuts both ways—he’s capable of fighting everywhere, but also of getting exposed everywhere depending on the night. When he opens up on the feet, he can put together solid volume and create momentum. The issue is defensive consistency; he’s often hittable in exchanges and doesn’t do a great job of avoiding return fire.
As fights progress, those defensive lapses tend to get worse. His hands can drop, and his speed noticeably fades, compounding the problem. That inconsistency has followed him throughout his career, and his record reflects those ups and downs. He’s dangerous in stretches, but not reliable enough to trust fully from fight to fight.
Prediction:
This fight is likely to be chaotic from start to finish, with little defense between the two. That said, I believe Tajima is slightly better overall. If he wanted to even play it safe, he could probably win a clean decision. What I see happening is Tajima catching Ti in an exchange and closing it out soon after. I got Tajima by TKO in round one.
