The Revived 'Korean Superboy' Choi Doo-ho, Challenging to Re-enter the UFC Rankings After 8 Years... Head-to-Head with No. 15 Pitbull

*This content was translated by AI.

'Korean Superboy' Choi Doo-ho (35) is set to challenge for a return to the UFC Featherweight rankings after eight years.

The UFC will host 'UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2' on September 20 (Korea time) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA. In this event, Choi Doo-ho will face Patricio Pitbull (39, Brazil), ranked No. 15 in the UFC Featherweight division. 'Zombie Junior' Yoo Ju-sang is also scheduled to compete in the same event against Michael Azwell Jr.

Choi Doo-ho (17 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses) previously achieved three consecutive KO victories after his UFC debut, climbing as high as No. 11 in the Featherweight rankings before being removed from the rankings in July 2018. After resolving his military service obligations, he returned to the octagon in 2023, recording one draw followed by three straight KO wins, announcing a spectacular comeback.

Notably, during last May's 'UFC Fight Night' co-main event, Choi secured a second-round TKO victory against Daniel Toss, known as the 'Korean Killer,' achieving a personal UFC record of three consecutive wins for the first time in 10 years. Having trained closely under 'Korean Zombie' Jung Chan-sung before stepping into the octagon, Choi overcame early pressure in the first round and finished the fight with powerful body shots and ground-and-pound in the second round, earning the fiery 'Fight of the Night' bonus.

The match was highly praised for its thrilling and explosive striking exchanges. The UFC commended Choi, stating, "Despite not competing for over a year, Choi demonstrated sharpness and comfort in the octagon, achieving three consecutive victories."

Immediately after his victory, Choi Doo-ho directly named Pitbull as his desired opponent, and now that matchup has been finalized. If he defeats No. 15 Pitbull in this fight and returns to the rankings, Choi will become the record-holder for the longest time elapsed between being on the UFC roster and re-entering the rankings among all fighters who remained on the roster throughout that period.

Opponent Patricio Pitbull (37 wins, 9 losses) is a veteran fighter who has held both Bellator Featherweight and Lightweight championships. With 13 KOs, 12 submissions, and 13 decision victories, he possesses diverse winning methods and consistently high-level performance.

Choi Doo-ho also boasts unparalleled striking ability, with 14 of his 17 career wins coming by KO. All six of his UFC victories have been secured via punch KOs.

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*This content was translated by AI.