Ko Seok-hyun eyes third UFC win: 'I'll broaden my vision and diversify my attacks'

Diet and weight training boost strength ahead of Turman bout

'Tunnel vision to finish cost me — I wasn't fighting like myself'

'I'm ahead in every area — striking and grappling both'

Choo Sung-hoon's focused retirement prep draws admiration

Ko Seok-hyun goes hunting for his third UFC win. [UFC]

Ko Seok-hyun, nicknamed "Technical," is sharpening his game management after suffering his first UFC defeat. The 32-year-old has vowed to set aside the urge to finish his opponent and instead win through a wider range of attacks.

Ko (13-3) faces Wellington Turman (30, Brazil) in a welterweight (77.1 kilograms) bout at UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brady, to be held Sunday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada (Korean Standard Time).

A student of "Stun Gun" Kim Dong-hyun, Ko had won two straight after his UFC debut before suffering a unanimous decision loss to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani in July — his first defeat in five years and his first since joining the UFC.

"I feel like I didn't fight like myself," Ko said in a video interview Wednesday. "I should have attacked through more varied routes, but my vision narrowed — I was only targeting the face. My game management was poor too."

Ko particularly identified his eagerness to finish the fight as what derailed his performance. "In that last fight, I was impatient because I wanted to end it, and when things didn't go my way, I panicked," he said. "This time I'll show the weapons I've prepared and adapt to the flow of the fight. Winning comes first — you need the win to get the next opportunity."

Since the loss, Ko has focused on filling the gaps in his game. He expanded his offensive options, added weight training and strength work, and tightened his diet to build more power. He even postponed his honeymoon after getting married last month to stay in the gym.

"There's no pressure," Ko said. "Because I could see what was lacking, I actually prepared for this fight with excitement — knowing that fixing those things means I can perform even better."

Ko Seok-hyun lands a deep left straight through Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani's guard at UFC Fight Night in July, his most recent bout. [UFC]

Opponent Turman (18-8) is a veteran with a 3-6 UFC record. He trains under former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira at Teixeira MMA, where he works alongside former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Turman blends Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu into a well-rounded striking and grappling game. Twelve of his 18 professional wins have come by KO or submission, including eight by submission. However, he has lost three straight, and a left shoulder injury sustained in his 2023 bout against Jared Gooden required four surgeries, leaving him sidelined for roughly three years.

"There's a reason he's been in the UFC for so long — he's solid across the board," Ko said. "I particularly have to watch out for his surprise submissions."

Even so, Ko flashed a confident smile and said, "I think I'm ahead in every area — I don't see anywhere I'm behind." Rather than committing to one discipline, he plans to mix striking and grappling as the situation demands.

Ko is a decorated grappler who won gold at the 2017 FIAS Combat Sambo World Championships. Across his three UFC bouts, he has landed 10 takedowns and controlled opponents from dominant positions for a combined 25 minutes and 12 seconds.

Ko Seok-hyun flashes a confident gesture during a video interview Tuesday, telling opponent Wellington Turman: "See you Sunday — I'm going to teach you a lesson." [Video interview capture]

The new nickname "Technical," which Ko began using ahead of his last fight, reflects his desire for change. "My wife came up with it," he explained. "The T from 'Technical' and the KO from my surname spell TKO — and it also means I want to fight with technique."

Addressing Turman directly, Ko grinned and struck a confident pose on camera. "See you Sunday," he said. "I'm going to teach you a lesson."

The main event of the card features a welterweight clash between No. 5-ranked Gabriel Bonfim of Brazil and No. 6-ranked Sean Brady of the United States.

Ko also spoke warmly about Choo Sung-hoon (51), known in Japan as Akiyama Yoshihiro, who has trained alongside Ko through their shared connection with Hava's Gym coach Kim Dong-hyun. "He works hard in morning sessions and pushes through every round even when it's tough," Ko said. "In the past I mostly saw him enjoying his training, but lately he's been so focused and serious in preparing for this fight — it's genuinely inspiring. I think he'll do great."

The former UFC fighter Choo will make his retirement bout Nov. 21 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, at Black Combat 17: VANTABLACK, in a rematch against fellow UFC veteran Chris Leben of the United States.

yjc@heraldcorp.com