Following the lead of 박현성, the winner of ROAD TO UFC Season 1, who has become a new UFC powerhouse with two consecutive finish victories. Five Korean fighters have thrown down the gauntlet as they participate in ROAD TO UFC Season 4, which has a UFC contract at stake.

The UFC will host the opening round of ROAD TO UFC Season 4 at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China, on the 22nd and 23rd (Korean time). A total of 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 winner will sign a contract with the UFC.

The five Korean participants are aiming for a spot in the UFC in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. 박어진 (23), 서동현 (34), and 윤창민 (30) will compete in the featherweight division, while 김상욱 (31) and 박재현 (23) will participate in the lightweight tournament.

윤창민 (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses), a student of ‘스턴건’ 김동현 and ‘섹시야마’ 추성훈, faces a formidable opponent. He will clash with 아오이 진 (28, Japan), the champion of the Japanese organization DEEP featherweight, who knocked out 신승민, the champion of the Korean organization Black Combat. Many fans are concerned, but 윤창민 has been eagerly anticipating this moment. He noted, "Before it was decided that I would participate in this tournament, I requested to fight 아오이 진 in ZFN," adding, "I’ve been wanting to fight him, so I’m excited and nervous."

He needs to shake off his doubts. 윤창민 did not meet fans' expectations in his last match against 더블지FC lightweight champion 박찬수, which ended in a draw after a clinch battle. His performance was disappointing compared to the potential he showed in ONE Championship. He said, "It has been a year and nine months since my last match, so my body was stiff," and vowed, "This time, I will do my best and absolutely not disappoint everyone."

Another match between Japan and Korea is also drawing significant attention. 박어진 (9 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) will face 나카무라 케이이치로 (26, Japan), the winner of the Japanese fighting reality show '격투대리전쟁 -더 맥스.' 박어진 asserted, "I excel in every aspect. He's an opponent I cannot lose to," declaring, "I will finish him in the first round."

박어진 is an outstanding well-rounded fighter with excellent grappling and striking abilities. He is currently on a streak of nine consecutive unbeaten matches. Notably, he raised his profile by defeating former UFC fighter 남의철 and GFC lightweight champion 정한국. He stated, "I've taken my first step toward my dream of entering the UFC," adding, "I will leave a strong impression with my performance."

One more match between Korea and Japan will follow. 김상욱 (11 wins, 3 losses), who is challenging ROAD TO UFC for the second time, will face 카미야 다이치 (26, Japan), a third-degree judo black belt. He expressed confidence that 카미야, who has two and a half years of mixed martial arts (MMA) experience, has only shown grappling skills and said, "I will block the grappling and dominate in striking."

A Korea-China match will also take place. 더블지FC featherweight interim champion 서동현 (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses) will clash with ‘언더독’ 리카이원 (29, China), the runner-up of ROAD TO UFC Season 2, in the main event on the 22nd. He confidently stated about the powerful puncher 리카이원, "Everyone has a punch, but I have the advantage technically and physically."

박재현, a student of ‘코리안 좀비’ 정찬성, will face an Oceania fighter for the first time this season. In his second challenge in ROAD TO UFC since Season 2, he will battle 잭 베커 (32, Australia), the former eternal MMA lightweight champion. He expressed, "I’m better in wrestling and striking and I'll win comfortably."

The opening round of ROAD TO UFC Season 4 will be broadcast on May 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. on tvn SPORTS and TVING. The first episode will end at 10 p.m., followed by the second episode.

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