Fighter sharpens striking skills aimed at finishing fights

Newlywed skipped honeymoon to refocus training

Ko Suk-hyun throws a left straight at Jean Paul Lebosnoyani during their bout in July. [Courtesy of UFC]
Ko Suk-hyun throws a left straight at Jean Paul Lebosnoyani during their bout in July. [Courtesy of UFC]

Newlywed Ko Suk-hyun, 32, of Havas MMA, will face "Prodigy" Wellington Turman, 30, of Brazil at "UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brady" on Nov. 8 (Korean time). The event takes place at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The bout comes just four months after Ko's unanimous decision loss to Jean Paul Lebosnoyani in July, marking a quick turnaround. Ko led after the first round in that fight but struggled once his signature takedowns were stifled from the second round on, ultimately losing on points.

The defeat was his first in a five-year career. Since then, Ko skipped his honeymoon after getting married last month to refocus on training, working intensively to shore up his weaknesses. He placed particular emphasis on improving his striking, and this upcoming bout will serve as a test of that progress.

His opponent, Wellington Turman, is a veteran with an 18-8 record and a teammate of UFC superstar Alex Pereira. Turman brings a well-rounded skill set built on Muay Thai and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He is on a three-fight losing streak and will return to the octagon for the first time in about three years. Turman underwent four surgeries on his left shoulder, which kept him out of action for an extended period.

Ko is a judo-based fighter known for his powerful grappling. In 2017, he became the only South Korean to win gold at the FIAS Combat Sambo World Championship. In the UFC, he has landed 10 takedowns across three fights and controlled dominant positions for a total of 25 minutes and 12 seconds.

The event's main card will feature a top-five welterweight contender showdown in the same division as Ko. No. 5-ranked Gabriel Bonfim, 29, of Brazil, who is riding a five-fight win streak, will square off against No. 6-ranked Sean Brady, 33, of the United States. Bonfim is a boxing-based striker, while Brady is a jiu-jitsu-based grappler.

Wellington Turman (left), who returns after three years away to face Ko Suk-hyun. [Courtesy of UFC]
Wellington Turman (left), who returns after three years away to face Ko Suk-hyun. [Courtesy of UFC]

yjc@heraldcorp.com