Five of South Korea's top mixed martial arts (MMA) prospects embark on a journey to become the 26th South Korean UFC fighter.
The UFC will host the opening round of ROAD TO UFC Season 4 over two days, on May 22 and 23 (Korean time), at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China. ROAD TO UFC is a tournament that offers UFC contract opportunities to top MMA prospects in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the opening round, 32 MMA fighters will compete in four weight classes: flyweight (56.7 kg), bantamweight (61.2 kg), featherweight (65.8 kg), and lightweight (70.3 kg). Each weight class champion will sign a contract with the UFC. To provide additional opportunities, three non-tournament matches will also take place.
In Korea, a total of five fighters will compete: in featherweight, 'Young Boss' Park Oh Jin (23), Seo Dong Hyun (34), and Yoon Chang Min (30); in lightweight, Kim Sang Wook (31) and 'Genius No. 1' Park Jae Hyun (23).
Park Oh Jin will face Keiichiro Nakamura (26, Japan), the winner of the Japanese fighting reality show Fighting Agent War-THE MAX-. Park Oh Jin (9 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) is an ambitious young fighter who gained significant attention by knocking out former UFC fighter Nam Ui Chul with a punch. His opponent Nakamura (5 wins, 1 loss) is a powerful striker with five consecutive finishes while serving in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Double G FC featherweight interim champion Seo Dong Hyun will face ROAD TO UFC Season 2 featherweight runner-up 'Underdog' Li Kai Wen (29, China). Former kickboxer Seo Dong Hyun (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses) made his MMA debut in 2018 and is currently on a four-fight winning streak. Li Kai Wen (14 wins, 6 losses) is a ONE Championship veteran known for his overwhelming knockout power.
If both Park Oh Jin and Seo Dong Hyun win, the two South Korean fighters will face each other in the semifinals to determine who advances to the final.
'Stun Gun' Kim Dong Hyun's disciple Yoon Chang Min will clash with DEEP featherweight champion 'Blue Devil' Aoi Jin (28, Japan). Yoon Chang Min (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses) participated as Choo Sung Hoon's disciple in Fighting Agent War Season 2 in 2018 and emerged victorious. He later moved to ONE Championship, achieving a commendable record of 7 wins and 2 losses. Aoi Jin (14 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses) gained widespread recognition among domestic fans by knocking out 2023 Black Combat featherweight champion Shin Seung Min with a counter punch followed by a soccer kick.
In the lightweight category, two ROAD TO UFC returnees will attempt to qualify for the UFC.
Another disciple of Kim Dong Hyun, Kim Sang Wook, will face Daichi Kamiya (26, Japan), a third-degree judo black belt. Former AFC welterweight interim champion Kim Sang Wook (11 wins, 3 losses) competed in the ROAD TO UFC Season 2 lightweight tournament in 2023, suffering a loss by decision in the semifinals to the eventual winner, Long Zhu. He possesses strong mental fortitude and durability, along with exceptional submission catching ability. His opponent Kamiya (6 wins, 1 no contest) is an undefeated rookie who has only been in MMA for two and a half years and utilizes grappling as his primary skill.
Park Jae Hyun, a disciple of 'Korean Zombie' Jung Chan Sung, will meet former Eternal MMA lightweight champion Jack Becker (32, Australia). Former AFC lightweight champion Park Jae Hyun (7 wins, 3 losses) was brought in as an alternate fighter in the semifinals of ROAD TO UFC Season 2 but lost by split decision to Haraguchi Shin. His tenacious grappling is his standout feature. His opponent Becker (13 wins, 5 losses) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and teammate of Jack Della Maddalena, who will challenge for the UFC welterweight title in May.
This tournament will feature the delayed finals of ROAD TO UFC Season 3 in the featherweight category. Ju Kang Jie (29, China) and Xie Bin (27, China) will battle for a UFC contract. The Season 3 finals were supposed to take place at the UFC Macao event last November but were postponed due to an injury to Ju Kang Jie.
The opening round of ROAD TO UFC Season 4 will start at 8 p.m. on May 22 and 23. The first episode will finish at 10 p.m., followed by the second episode.
ROAD TO UFC Season 4 opening round matchups #RTU4
Flyweight (56.7 kg) tournament opening round
Agurari (11 wins, 1 loss, China) vs Mrlidul Saikia (8 wins, India)
Yamauchi Wataru (7 wins, 1 loss, Japan) vs Namsglai Batbayar (7 wins, 1 loss, Mongolia)
Inshai (17 wins, 5 losses, China) vs Yoshida Kai (6 wins, 1 loss, Japan)
Rio Tirto (8 wins, Indonesia) vs Aaron Tau (8 wins, 1 loss, New Zealand)
Bantamweight (61.2 kg) tournament opening round
Ito Kuya (17 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses, Japan) vs Sim Kai Shong (6 wins, 1 loss, Singapore)
Sulanglangbo (8 wins, 3 losses, China) vs Peter Daniso (8 wins, 3 losses, Thailand)
Tihaitao (16 wins, 5 losses, China) vs Lawrence Louis (5 wins, 1 loss, New Zealand)
Imura Rui (12 wins, 4 losses, Japan) vs Nguyem Van Yi (5 wins, 1 loss, Vietnam)
Featherweight (65.8 kg) tournament opening round
Keiichiro Nakamura (5 wins, 1 loss, Japan) vs Park Oh Jin (8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, Korea)
Li Kai Wen (14 wins, 6 losses, China) vs Seo Dong Hyun (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, Korea)
Sebastian Saleh (7 wins, 1 loss, Australia) vs Ahurjang Airinul (15 wins, 3 losses, China)
Aoi Jin (14 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, Japan) vs Yoon Chang Min (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, Korea)
Lightweight (70.3 kg) tournament opening round
Epheviga Yanick Yuji (11 wins, Japan) vs Dom Mar Pan (6 wins, 2 losses, Australia)
Jack Becker (13 wins, 5 losses, Australia) vs Park Jae Hyun (7 wins, 3 losses, Korea)
Runyawey (8 wins, 3 losses, China) vs Denny Dapa (6 wins, 1 loss, Indonesia)
Kim Sang Wook (11 wins, 3 losses) vs Daichi Kamiya (6 wins, Japan)
Non-tournament matches
Lightweight (70.3 kg): Aziz Haidarov (21 wins, 6 losses, Tajikistan) vs Adilet Nurmatov (13 wins, 2 losses, Kyrgyzstan)
Women's strawweight (52.2 kg): Peng Shao Chan (10 wins, 3 losses, China) vs Matsuda Arisa (6 wins, Japan)
Welterweight (77.1 kg): Taiiraker Nuarazi (11 wins, 1 loss, China) vs Kit Campbell (14 wins, 7 losses, Australia)
ROAD TO UFC Season 3 featherweight (65.8 kg) final
Ju Kang Jie (20 wins, 4 losses, China) vs Xie Bin (13 wins, 4 losses, China)
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