South Korean mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter choi Seung-woo’s seven-year run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has come to an end. The news, reported on April 10 (Korea Standard Time), was first broken by U.S. media outlet MMA Fighting, which stated that “Choi Seung-woo (33), who was recently defeated by UFC, is no longer included in the active roster.” This marks the conclusion of a career that saw Choi compete on the world’s biggest MMA stage.

Choi Seung-woo debuted in the UFC in April 2019, becoming the 15th South Korean fighter to enter the promotion.Over his tenure, he amassed a record of four wins adn seven losses across eleven fights. This places him among the most active South Korean fighters in UFC history,tied with Park Joon-yong (8 wins and 3 losses) for fourth-most appearances.

While Choi’s UFC record may not be stellar, he achieved notable success, highlighted by a unanimous decision victory over youssef Jalal at UFC on ESPN+ 42 in February 2021. in that fight, Choi demonstrated superior striking, landing 41 effective strikes to Jalal’s 23. He also secured two takedowns and maintained grappling control for three minutes and 39 seconds, overcoming an initial disadvantage.

At the time of their bout, Youssef Jalal was ranked 12th in the UFC featherweight (66 kg) division. Choi’s victory showcased his striking prowess, with an extraordinary 64.1% effective striking rate. Despite facing a world-class opponent with solid ground skills and a 44.9% control percentage, Choi secured a dominant win.

Elorating and Korean UFC Rankings

The Elaborating System, commonly referred to as Elorating, is a method used to evaluate the relative skill levels of players and teams across many sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and even esports. During his UFC career, Choi Seung-woo reached a peak Elorating of 2848, placing him fifth among all South Korean fighters, excluding current active competitors.

This means that only Jung Chan-sung (3130 points), Kim Dong-hyun (3085 points), Jung Down (2939 points), and Kang Kyung-ho (2872 points) achieved higher peak Eloratings than Choi Seung-woo in the UFC. His achievements extend beyond MMA; at the age of 18, Choi won a bronze medal in the 63.5kg division at the 15th International Amateur Muay Thai World Championships in 2010, demonstrating his striking talent from a young age.

While Choi’s UFC tenure may be over, his impact on South Korean MMA remains notable. He proved to be a tough competitor, showcasing moments of brilliance against top-ranked opponents. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring MMA fighters in South Korea and highlights the growing popularity of the sport in the country.

*Excluding Active Players