'Stun Gun' Kim Dong-hyun's protégé Ko Seok-hyun, aiming for UFC three-peat "One month before my wedding: Bruises and cuts on my face are OK"

*This content was translated by AI.

'Stun Gun' Kim Dong-hyun's protégé steps into the octagon. Ko Seok-hyun (33) challenges for a three-fight winning streak on the UFC stage.

Ko Seok-hyun will face 'Mousa' Jean-Paul Lebosnoyan (27, USA) in a welterweight undercard bout at 'UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman' to be held on the 19th (Korean time) at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Locally, Ko Seok-hyun's chances of victory are viewed highly. Overseas bookmakers have him favored at approximately 65-35.

Ko Seok-hyun, a student of Kim Dong-hyun, is currently on a sharp upward trajectory in the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene. In 2024, he became the first Korean to compete in Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS), defeating Igor Cavalcan by unanimous decision and successfully earning a UFC contract. His potential was recognized so early that Dana White himself, who witnessed Ko's performance firsthand during the audition-style tournament, immediately decided to sign him.

His journey after entering the octagon has been unstoppable. Ko Seok-hyun has written dramatic comebacks in every fight, overturning experts' predictions. In his UFC debut in June 2025, he delivered a powerful impression by defeating Wales' Evan Elliott, who was on an eight-fight winning streak, with a 3-0 unanimous decision victory despite being given a slim 21% win probability.

Then, just four months later last November, he secured a perfect victory against veteran fighter Phil Ro (35, USA) at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Prior to the fight, he received harsh assessments from U.S. combat sports media outlets stating, "His debut performance was overrated. Phil Ro is stronger than his first opponent in almost every aspect." Yet the result was the exact opposite.

At that time, Ko Seok-hyun closed the distance with sharp striking and successfully executed four takedowns, overwhelming Ro with overwhelming statistics: 124-11 total strikes landed and 36-4 effective strikes, securing a 3-0 unanimous decision victory. By continuously overcoming unfavorable underdog conditions, he has firmly established himself as a new powerhouse in the welterweight division.

Ko Seok-hyun, who suffered a Galbi bone injury ahead of his Jacoby Smith fight last February, is set to return after sufficient rest and rehabilitation. Notably, despite his wedding scheduled for August 8, he reportedly decided to compete with the full support of his fiancée.

Regarding this, Ko Seok-hyun expressed gratitude, saying, "Rather than me receiving permission, my girlfriend was the one who insisted the fight comes first." He added, "She even told me that if dress shop appointments conflicted, we could just pay the penalty and reschedule, which allowed me to prepare for the fight without worry."

He further remarked, "Even if I get bruises or cuts on my face, I can just cover them with makeup, so I'm not too worried about it." He concluded, "My fiancée has supported me greatly and boosted my self-esteem, allowing me to train even harder."

The opponent he will face this time, Lebosnoyan, is a fighter who grew up receiving early training in a long-established martial arts family. He began learning MMA from his father, Nerses Lebosnoyan—who studied jiu-jitsu under Jiu-Jitsu founder Helio Gracie and served as a coach for Royce Gracie—starting at age three. After entering the UFC with a headkick KO victory at DWCS in 2025, he previously defeated Phil Ro, whom Ko Seok-hyun had faced, in his debut win last February.

Known as a powerful grappler, Ko Seok-hyun has now declared an aggressive striking battle. He emphasized, "I believe I will be overwhelmingly superior in grappling and wrestling," adding, "For this fight, I have trained striking more intensively. I want to knock out my opponent stylishly with striking, full of confidence."

He also addressed fans, vowing, "I will appear as an impressive striker and secure a knockout," before joking, "Even if the fight goes into wrestling, I hope everyone will understand."

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*This content was translated by AI.