'Hall of Fame' member Choi Doo-ho, after twists and turns, finally returns to UFC! No variables of "failed to appear" — "I bear great responsibility as Korea's top fighter"

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Doo-ho (35), a UFC Hall of Fame inductee and the face of Korean mixed martial arts, has overcome numerous obstacles and completed all preparations for his return to the octagon. He aims for his third consecutive UFC victory in nearly a decade against his arch-rival, known as the "Korean Killer," who has shown a particularly strong record against Korean fighters.

On the 16th (Korean time), Choi Doo-ho weighed in at 66.2 kg at the UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa weigh-in held at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, successfully meeting the featherweight division's standard weight limit.

His opponent, Daniel Toss (31, Brazil), also stepped off the scale at exactly 65.8 kg, allowing both fighters to pass the final weigh-in. Immediately after the weigh-in, during the face-off, the two fighters shook hands, pledging to compete fairly and honorably.

The journey to make this return fight happen was truly arduous. Choi Doo-ho was originally scheduled to face Gavin Tucker at a tournament in Winnipeg, Canada, last April, but the schedule was derailed when his opponent suddenly announced his retirement.

UFC then moved quickly. When Choi Doo-ho was left in limbo due to his opponent's retirement, Toss, whose previous bout with Choi had been canceled, directly contacted the UFC to request this matchup, leading to a dramatic arrangement of the fight. The event, delayed by about four weeks from the original schedule, was moved to Las Vegas, and the day of the showdown has finally arrived in May.

Toss, who will face Choi Doo-ho in the co-main event on the 17th, is a familiar yet troublesome rival to domestic fans. Toss secured a decision victory over Korean Tiger Lee Jung-young last May, and in September, he knocked out Yoo Ju-sang, known as "Zombie Junior," who had stepped in as a replacement due to Choi Doo-ho's injury withdrawal, extending his winning streak against Korean fighters to two consecutive victories.

Regarding this, Choi Doo-ho stated, "As the most widely known Korean UFC fighter, I bear great responsibility. Toss must defeat me to complete his title as the 'Korean Killer,' but I will make sure that never happens and will erase that nickname with my own hands," burning with strong determination.

He added, "I have treated the areas of my body that were not in good condition and have created many new weapons, so I believe I will be able to show them in this fight."

A fierce striking battle has also been anticipated. Choi Doo-ho said, "I have planned my strategy around striking, but I'm not sure if Toss can continue to engage in striking exchanges with me. He has yet to suffer his first KO loss, but since all my victories have been by KO, I will give him his first defeat," revealing strong confidence.

In response, Toss countered, "I will fight fiercely with all my spirit for the first two rounds and aim for a KO in the third round."

Currently, overseas bookmakers are favoring Toss over Choi Doo-ho with odds of approximately 38 to 62. Choi Doo-ho has been preparing for this matchup by participating in an intensive training camp under the guidance of Korean Zombie Jung Chan-sung in Seoul since March, having left Daegu.

If Choi Doo-ho wins this fight, following his comeback victory over Bill Algeo and Nate Landwehr in 2024, he will achieve a remarkable feat of three consecutive UFC victories in nearly a decade since 2016, laying the groundwork for a return to the featherweight rankings.

Meanwhile, UFC featherweight ranked 7th Arnold Allen (32, England) and 12th Melquizedec Costa (29, Brazil), who are competing in the main event of this tournament, also weighed in at 66 kg each, successfully completing their weigh-ins.

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*This content was translated by AI.