UFC's Ko Seok-hyun Returns After 8 Months, Eyes 3rd Straight Win Against Levosnoyani

"Korean Tyson" Ko Seok-hyun (32) is set to challenge for his third consecutive victory in the UFC, the world's premier mixed martial arts organization.

Ko will face Jean-Paul Levosnoyani in a welterweight bout at "UFC Fight Night: du Plessis vs. Usman," scheduled for July 19 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

This marks Ko's return to the octagon after an eight-month hiatus, following his victory over Phil Rowe (USA) last November.

He was originally scheduled to face Jacoby Smith (USA) in February, but the match was canceled due to a rib injury, delaying his return.

With his wedding approaching in August, Ko is determined to secure a win in this bout before heading off on his honeymoon.

The matchup between the two fighters is highly anticipated as a clash of contrasting grappling styles.

Ko is a formidable grappler with a background in judo, which he has practiced since childhood, and he won a gold medal at the 2017 International Sambo Federation (FIAS) World Championships.

In his previous two fights, he showcased dominant control, successfully executing 10 takedowns and controlling his opponents for 23 minutes and 25 seconds out of a total of 30 minutes of fight time.

Levosnoyani, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt, is an aggressive fighter.

He received early training from his father, who learned from BJJ founder Hélio Gracie and served as a coach for the first-ever UFC champion, Royce Gracie.

Levosnoyani is known for his finishing ability, having secured 8 of his 10 victories via finish (5 submissions and 3 TKOs).

Recently, Ko has completed intensive training under the guidance of his mentor, "Stun Gun" Kim Dong-hyun.

He traveled to Ireland to train with Conor McGregor and recently invited former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley to South Korea to further hone his skills.

The main event of the tournament will feature a showdown between former UFC champions.

Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis (South Africa) and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (USA/Nigeria) will face off in a middleweight bout.

(Photo: UFC, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.