By:  | November 9, 2022 9:04 am

Doo Ho Choi will be returning after a two year absence. The Korean featherweight has not fought since 2019 but will be back in action at UFC Seoul.

He was once one of the fastest rising stars in the sport and won his first three UFC fights with devastating first round stoppages. But Choi is coming off three straight losses, although he did earn a $50,000 USD performance bonus for his efforts on each occasion.

Choi (14-4) has seen his career badly interrupted by injury and was also forced to sit on the sidelines while he resolved issues surrounding his compulsory military service in Korea. His last victory came all the way back in 2016.

At UFC Seoul he has been matched with Kyle Nelson (13-5). With four losses from his five UFC fights the Canadian will surely be fighting for his promotional future on February 4th.

 

Previously announced

The card at the Olympic Gymnasium in Seoul looks set to be stacked with Korean fighters and among the other matchups confirmed is a light heavyweight bout between Da Un Jung and Devin Clark. The former is fighting in his homeland for the first time since 2019.

Jung is coming off a KO loss to Dustin Jacoby at UFC on ABC 2 but that defeat was the first of the 28 year old’s UFC career. Prior to that he had won four and draw one and won four but Jung remains unranked despite this impressive form.

Clark is also coming off a loss. He has been on the UFC roster since 2016 and has seven defeats and seven victories from his 14 octagon outings.

Not confirmed

The UFC has still not confirmed the event in Seoul on February 4th but multiple fights appear to have been booked for that card. Reliable sources are reporting that Ji Yeon Kim will be taking on Mandy Bohm.

Kim is on a four fight losing skid but while she hasn’t been winning fights the Korean has been making money and entertaining the fans. She picked up two $50,000 USD bonuses during this run, for the defeats to Priscila Cachoeira and Molly McCann.

Her most recent fight was at bantamweight but she will be dropping back down to 125lbs for this bout. The 33 year old faces Bohm who hails from Germany and has lost both her UFC fights by decision.

Quick turnaround

Meanwhile Jun Yong Park has been handed a quick turnaround according to reports. The Korean middleweight has been booked to face Denis Tiuliulin in Seoul on February 4th.

Yong is coming off a submission win over Joseph Holmes at UFC Vegas 63 last weekend. He was born in Seoul and fights out of Korean Top Team there.

Yong is coming off a two fight winning streak and scored a stoppage for the first time in his UFC career in Las Vegas last weekend. His four previous wins inside the octagon had all come by way of decision.

Tiuliulin is a UAE Warriors veteran who has won one of his two UFC fights. He came to prominence relatively late in life having been a professional for nearly a decade.

Japanese presence

Also representing Japan will be Yusaku Kinoshita who has signed with the UFC and will face Adam Fugitt in Seoul. The Japanese welterweight earned his contract after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Kinoshita enjoyed success as an amateur in Japan before turning pro. He has fought for Pancrase, Deep and Rizin and the sole defeat of his career was self inflicted.

Fugitt is coming off a stoppage loss on his promotional debut. He was stopped by Michael Morales in the third round at UFC 277.

Rising star

Tatsuro Taira will be back in action at UFC Seoul. The undefeated Japanese flyweight has been matched with Jesus Aguilar at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena on February 4th.

Taira (12-0) is one of the fastest rising stars on the roster. At UFC Vegas 62 he submitted C.J. Vergara in the second round to make it two wins out of two inside the octagon, earning a $50,000 USD performance bonus in the process.

Aguilar (8-1) will be making his UFC debut but comes into the contest on the back of an eight fight winning streak. He submitted Erisson Ferreira at Dana White’s Contender Series to earn his spot on the roster.

Thai star

Loma Lookboonmee will take on Elise Reed at UFC Seoul. The Thai strawweight recently signed a new deal with the promotion and didn’t have to wait too long for her next fight.

Loma (7-3) is coming off a win over Denise Gomes at UFC Vegas 60. Afterwards she opened up about the ongoing mental health issues she had been struggling with.

But her career is going well with four wins from six UFC fights and a new contract. Her next fight will take place in Seoul on February 4th and sees Loma matched with an opponent of very similar experience.

Gomes (6-2) has won two out of her four UFC fights. The American is coming off a decision win over Melissa Martinez at UFC 279.

UFC TBA, Seoul, February 4th
Da Un Jung vs. Devin Clark (Welterweight)
Doo Ho Choi vs. Kyle Nelson (Featherweight)
Ji Yeon Kim vs. Mandy Bohm (Flyweight)
Jun Yong Park vs. Denis Tiuliulin (Middleweight)
Yusaku Kinoshita vs. Adam Fugitt (Welterweight)
Tatsuro Taira vs. Jesus Aguilar (Flyweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs. Elise Reed (Strawweight)