The UFC is looking for its 21st Korean fighter.
The UFC will host the opening rounds of Road to UFC Season 2 on Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28 at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China.
Road to UFC is a four-weight division (flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight) quarterfinal tournament competition. It features the top MMA prospects in Asia. The eventual winner will be signed to the UFC. In Season 1, featherweight Lee Jung-young and flyweight Park Hyun-sung won, becoming the 19th and 20th UFC fighters to do so.
This season, seven Korean fighters will compete in the tournament. Lee Jung Hyun (20, 8 wins), Choi Seung Kook (26, 6-2), Lee Chang Ho (28, 7-1), Kim Sang Won (30, 9-1), Kim Sang Won (30, 9-1), Kim Ki Bin (32, 17-8), Kim Sang Wook (29, 7-1) and Hong Seong Chan (32, 9-1) will represent Korea in the flyweight division.
The opening round non-tournament bouts will feature welterweights Hansul Kim (32, 13-4) and Sang Hoon Yoo (33, 7-2).
All four South Korean fighters competing in Episodes 1 and 2 on Sunday made weight at the weigh-ins held at the Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai Daning on Saturday.
Lee Jung-hyun was the last to step on the scale, tipping the scales at 126 pounds (57.2 kilograms) for the flyweight division and quipped, “It was so hard.”
The rapper, who also appeared on “High School Rapper,” said, “Of course, when someone like me comes out, they pay attention. I’m very happy that everyone is looking at me in a good light,” he said, adding, “I’m waiting for the competition to come soon.”
In Episode 1, Lee faces Mark Klimako (Philippines-25), a fighter from the prestigious American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).
Last season’s runner-up, Choi Seung-guk, also moved up to the flyweight division at 126 pounds (57.2 kg).
“He told me that I don’t believe in myself too much and advised me to believe in myself a little bit more,” Choi said, “so I’m going to be a little more aggressive this time.”
Choi will face Sumeet Kumar (India-22), a wrestler from the prestigious Team Alpha Male lightweight program, in Episode 2.
Kim Sang-won, who faces Keisuke Sasu (Japan-28) in Episode 1, weighed in at featherweight at 145.5 pounds (66 kg).메이저사이트
“My biggest weapon is to swamp my opponent with steps so he can’t do anything,” Kim said, “I’m going to swamp him and then rip his throat out.”
Kim weighed in at 171 pounds (approx. 77.6 kilograms) for his non-tournament welterweight bout against TAIRAKER NUALAJI (21-China).
“Last year, I think I didn’t perform well because I was under pressure to make an impact. Having experienced it once last year, I felt much more relaxed this year, and I was free of the pressure to show something,” she laughed.