Zhang Lipeng the ultimate fighter in TV finale

Zhang Lipeng turned his UFC dream into reality in Macau on Saturday night by taking a split-points decision over Wang Sai in their welterweight mixed martial arts bout.

The fight was the finale to the Ultimate Fighter China reality TV series and the victory gives the 24-year-old from Inner Mongolia a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s stable of international stars.

The judges’ decision proved controversial with the crowd at the Venetian Macao and Zhang himself seemed taken aback. “I didn’t follow our game plan – I’m sorry”, was his rather circumspect victory speech.

In the other marquee event on the card, Korean Kim Dong-hyun used a savage elbow to turn the light out on Englishman John Hathaway in their welterweight clash.