In a hard-fought lightweight battle on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 257, Gauge Young silenced the home crowd in Shanghai, China, by earning his first promotional victory against Maheshate Hayisaer. The event, which took place on August 23, 2025, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, saw Young utilize a well-rounded strategy to secure a unanimous decision from the judges.
A Tactical Three-Round Affair
The bout served as the featured preliminary fight, and both athletes were keen to make a statement. The first round was a tense affair, with Young landing a significant head kick that briefly staggered Maheshate. However, the momentum was intermittently halted due to multiple warnings for extended fingers from both fighters. Towards the end of the round, Young initiated grappling exchanges, but the 6’0″ Chinese fighter showcased solid defense, according to a detailed report from Cageside Press.
Maheshate came out aggressively in the second round, finding success with his striking and appearing to take control of the fight’s momentum. The two lightweights traded significant blows in the center of the octagon. However, the turning point came in the final minute when Young changed levels and secured a crucial takedown. He quickly advanced his position, moving from half-guard to mount and threatening from the back before Maheshate managed to escape just before the bell.
The third and final round saw Young implement a control-heavy game plan. He pressed Maheshate against the fence for a significant portion of the round, stifling his opponent’s striking offense. Maheshate eventually broke free with about two minutes remaining and landed several powerful shots, including elbows. Young weathered the storm, re-engaged in the clinch, and the fight concluded with both men grappling for position.
The Official Decision and What It Means
After fifteen minutes of action, the judges’ scorecards were read, all in favor of the American fighter. The official result was a unanimous decision for Gauge Young with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. The victory was backed by the fight statistics, which showed Young out-landing Maheshate in significant strikes 76 to 42 and successfully completing two takedowns, as recorded by UFCStats.com.
This win is a pivotal moment for Gauge Young, whose professional record now stands at 10-3-0, according to Sherdog. After an unsuccessful bid on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024 and a short-notice loss in his UFC debut, this victory in hostile territory firmly establishes his place on the roster and provides a foundation to build upon in the competitive lightweight division.
For Maheshate, the loss marks a significant setback. The 25-year-old, who trains out of the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, saw his professional record fall to 10-5-0. The defeat in front of his home fans brings his UFC record to a challenging 2-4. Despite his impressive knockout power, demonstrated in his debut win over Steve Garcia at UFC 275, consistency has been an issue. He will now need to regroup and address the strategic gaps exposed in this contest to reignite his promising career.
