Jiang Yong defeated India’s Rehaan Lulla by unanimous decision at the Happy Elephant MMA Champions League – Macau Cup in October. Looking back at the 2024 season, Jiang Yong has been in excellent form. He has defeated three opponents in a row: a first-round submission against Zhang Yanlong of Mengma Heroes Club, a decision win in the rematch against Cheng Mingchao of Fighting Brothers, and now his latest opponent, Rehaan Lulla.

For Jiang Yong, Happy Elephant MMA has a special meaning. In early 2023, he stepped into the world of mixed martial arts for the first time and met Happy Elephant MMA from the very beginning. In that debut match, Jiang was full of energy and consistently scored victories. With a background in classical wrestling, he showed off his superb grappling skills and charisma in the octagon, leaving a deep impression on the crowd.

However, victories are never easy. At the time, Jiang’s wrestling skills were relatively clueless when it came to stand-up and ground techniques, which left him helpless against more well-rounded opponents and led to his early defeats. In his second fight, he faced Cheng Mingchao, a young wrestler, and was knocked out in the first round by TKO. Shortly after, he lost a decision to stand-up fighter Wang Haoxiang. This caused Jiang to reflect deeply and focus on learning and growing.

Then, in the Jinling Cup, Jiang successfully defeated the formidable Qi Hailin, completing a remarkable turnaround in which the process was as exciting as the result.

2024 has been a year of rapid growth for Jiang Yong, who has trained hard for the Macau Cup and beyond, reaping one good result after another. He has gained a clearer understanding of himself and a broader perspective on mixed martial arts. In conversations this year, Jiang has consistently expressed his commitment to learning and improving, and he is eager to showcase his progress in stand-up fighting. Although he has set himself a KO target which he has yet to achieve, there is much anticipation for his future performances.

The road ahead is long and bright, and Happy Elephant MMA will be there to witness the growth and future of each athlete.