Yoo Soo-young Triumphs in Road to UFC Season 3
The global MMA organization has praised South Korean fighter Yoo Soo-young, who recently secured a unanimous decision victory over Xiaolong from China at UFC on ESPN+ 115. This win is particularly significant as it took place in Shanghai’s Dautai arena, which has a seating capacity of 120,000.
Yoo, who is also known as “Yu Ji-su,” was previously ranked second in the bantamweight tournament during the second season of the Road to UFC series, while he clinched the top position in the same category in season 3. His performance continued a five-fight winning streak, drawing attention from the UFC’s official English website, which highlighted his technical superiority over the popular Chinese fighter.
All judges at UFC on ESPN+ 115 scored the fight in Yoo’s favor: he won the first two rounds (10-9 each) but faced a challenge in the third round, resulting in an overall score of 29-28. The official review noted that Yoo displayed higher accuracy and effectiveness during the early rounds, successfully evading most of Xiaolong’s attacks.
In an assessment of their performance, “MMA Fight Pick” established a -300 dividend for Yoo Soo-young’s victory and highlighted the technical advantages he had over Xiaolong. Yoo’s combat style was shown to be notably superior, with a striking and grappling prowess that places him among the top ranks in the bantamweight division.
Following this victory, Yoo Soo-young’s rating surged from 96 points to 114 points, elevating him from 46th to 38th in the UFC bantamweight division. This achievement has positioned him firmly within the upper echelons of mixed martial arts competition globally.
In a post-fight interview, Yoo expressed his excitement about the victory, stating that the match was more intense than anticipated. He noted the importance of maintaining his position and staying engaged in the fight to avoid being countered effectively. This win marks a significant milestone in his UFC career as he aims to build on his current momentum.
Yoo Soo-young stands as one of the prominent figures in Korean MMA, being the 21st fighter from Korea to debut in the UFC post-COVID-19 pandemic. His journey has featured multiple championship titles in various organizations, consolidating his reputation within the sport.
