'Didn't even go on a honeymoon' — Goh Seok-hyun, desperate for his third UFC win... faces 'Brazilian Veteran' Turman

*This content was translated by AI.

Goh Seok-hyun (32), a student of 'Stun Gun' Kim Dong-hyun, returns after four months to chase his third career UFC victory, overcoming the pain of his first defeat.

Goh Seok-hyun will face Brazilian veteran fighter Wellington Turman (30) in a welterweight (77.1kg) bout on the undercard of 'UFC Fight Night: Bumbum vs. Brady' at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on November 8 (Korean time).

Goh Seok-hyun, who became the first Korean to secure a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS), immediately displayed fierce momentum upon entering the octagon. After defeating Oban Elliott by unanimous decision in his debut — breaking Elliott's eight-fight winning streak — he dominated veteran Phil Romero last November with another unanimous decision victory, securing back-to-back wins. At the time, he repeatedly overturned local media underdog assessments, leaving a strong impression.

However, in his July bout against Jean-Paul Lebosnoyan, Goh Seok-hyun was outmatched in striking and grappling exchanges after the second round, resulting in a unanimous decision loss. It was a bitter defeat he had not tasted in five years.

After suffering that blow, Goh Seok-hyun immediately began training upon returning to Korea. Following his marriage last month, he skipped even his honeymoon, channeling his frustration into refining weaknesses and intensifying striking drills.

Opponent Turman belongs to 'Teixeira MMA', led by former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira, and is a teammate of former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. He began training in Muay Thai at age 15 for weight-cutting purposes and has since earned a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. A well-rounded fighter who entered the UFC in 2019 with a record of 3 wins and 6 losses, Turman has accumulated 18 career victories, including four knockouts and eight submission wins, achieving a finish rate of 66.7%.

Turman, who switched from middleweight to welterweight in 2023, is currently on a three-fight losing streak. This return bout marks his first fight in nearly three years since his last actual competition. Following his July 2023 match against Jared Guden, he endured a long layoff due to multiple surgeries — four in total — for a left shoulder injury. He had attempted a comeback at an Abu Dhabi event in July against Islam Dulatov but was forced to withdraw due to opponent-related issues.

With a judo and sambo foundation, Goh Seok-hyun overwhelms opponents using powerful grappling. After becoming the first Korean to win gold at the 2017 Combat Sambo World Championships (FIAS), he successfully executed 10 takedowns across three UFC fights, maintaining top position for an impressive 25 minutes and 12 seconds, demonstrating exceptional control ability.

Meanwhile, the main event of this card features a top-five welterweight contender showdown. Ranked fifth Gabriel Bumbum (Brazil), riding a five-fight winning streak, will face ranked sixth Sean Brady (USA), who specializes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as they meet on the path to title contention.

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*This content was translated by AI.