UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar · Jul 27, 2019 · Featherweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar Next Fight
Age 39
Height 5' 6"
Reach 66.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 33
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Gavin Tucker
4.29 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
4.18 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
3.13 TD Avg
44.0% TD Acc.
53.0% TD Def.
1.5 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - SeungWoo Choi
3.56 SLpM
38.0% Str. Acc.
3.16 SApM
47.0% Str. Def.
0.83 TD Avg
54.0% TD Acc.
70.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Gavin Tucker - Fight History
CANCEL vs Lee Jeong-yeong
LOSS vs Diego Lopes
Submission (armbar) R1 1:38 · UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font · Aug 05, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Diego Lopes 0 0 of 4 0% 0 of 4 0 of 0 --- 3 0 0:00
Gavin Tucker 0 0 of 6 0% 0 of 6 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Diego Lopes 0 0 of 4 0% 0 of 4 0 of 0 --- 3 0 0:00
Gavin Tucker 0 0 of 6 0% 0 of 6 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:39
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Diego Lopes 0 of 4 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Gavin Tucker 0 of 6 0% 0 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Diego Lopes 0 of 4 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Gavin Tucker 0 of 6 0% 0 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Diego Lopes vs. Gavin Tucker
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lopes (-170), Tucker (+142)

Round 1
Jimmy Neely will ref this featherweight showdown. A Tucker high kick slams off Lopes’ forearm. Tucker tries to land a hard low kick, but it hits the groin, and Lopes doubles over in pain. The action resumes and Tucker loads up an overhand right. Tucker goes for a single leg takedown, and Lopes responds by jumping to his back for a triangle.
Lopes continues to adjust the hold, pulling on the arm at the same time. The choke gets deeper as a result, and Tucker’s arm bends at a gruesome angle as Lopes rolls him into a mounted triangle for style points.
It’s the triangle armbar that brought the tap, a spectacular submission win for Lopes.

The Official Result
Diego Lopes def. Gavin Tucker via Submission (Triangle Armbar) R1 1:38
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Angelo picks Gavin Tucker, citing his high pace, takedowns, and ability to ride to a win. He notes that Diego Lopes relies too much on raw Jiu-Jitsu off his back and gets taken down too easily. Angelo has a half-unit bet on Tucker at +115, but would have a full unit if not for Tucker's two-year layoff. He criticizes recency bias favoring Lopes for not getting finished by a fighter who finishes nobody.

0.5 units at +115
"Gavin's the pick here I have a half a unit on him at plus 115"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 1, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Diego Lopes

Big Brady picks Lopes but hates the line (-180). He notes Tucker is 37, coming off a long layoff and a knockout loss, and has durability issues. He thinks Lopes can hurt or submit Tucker, but acknowledges Tucker's path to victory is taking Lopes down and controlling him, as Lopes has poor takedown defense. He would prefer to bet Lopes by submission but warns the price is scary.

Lopes by finish (submission or KO); line movement from +120 to -180 is too much
"I gotta go Lopez here I hate the line though"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Cody picks Tucker as a plus-money underdog, citing his BJJ black belt, better wrestling, and counter-striking. He notes Tucker's long layoff and age (37) as risks, but believes Tucker can survive the first round and then take over with takedowns and pressure. He admits recency bias from Lopes' impressive debut but thinks Tucker's advantages in wrestling and experience will prevail.

"I'm gonna go Gavin Tucker... I'm chasing plus money on this one with Gavin Tucker"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Diego Lopes

Daniel Levi picks Diego Lopes but hesitantly, citing Lopes' opportunistic finishing ability and Tucker's durability issues. He notes that Lopes is dangerous with submissions and power, but his low output could allow Tucker to outpoint him if he doesn't finish. Levi is concerned about Tucker's age (37) and history of getting knocked out, but also acknowledges Tucker's offensive skills. He believes Lopes will likely need a finish to win, as he doubts Lopes can win a decision.

Suggests looking at Lopes props (by finish) rather than laying the moneyline. No specific prop bet.
"I'm gonna still pick Lopez because Tucker does sketch me out."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Diego Lopes

James disagrees with the public betting on Tucker. He thinks Tucker is old (37), inactive, and has been hurt and knocked out before. Lopes is a high-volume, heavy-handed fighter who will push a pace Tucker can't keep. James predicts Lopes will finish Tucker, likely via pace or strikes.

finish
"I think Lopez is probably going to finish Gavin Tucker here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Aug 4, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Tucker is a talented striker with a BJJ black belt, which should be enough to keep the fight safe on the ground. Lopes depends too much on his BJJ and plays off his back, eating clock. Tucker's long layoff due to a rotator cuff injury is a concern, but he's still talented enough to beat Lopes. I'm taking the underdog Tucker by decision.

"give me the underdog shot here on Gavin Tucker and I think he wins this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 2, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Diego Lopes

Paul leans towards Lopes by submission at +230, citing Lopes' impressive short-notice debut and submission skills. He notes Tucker's long layoff and knockout loss, but acknowledges Lopes' takedown defense issues and potential cardio problems. He sees Lopes catching Tucker in a submission early.

Lopes by submission +230
"Diego Lopez by submission which is like plus 230... has my attention"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Diego Lopes

The host picks Diego Lopes, citing his youth (28), well-roundedness, and forward pressure. He notes Tucker is 37, inactive, and has been knocked out before. He believes Lopes will land big shots and break Tucker down, possibly getting a finish. He likes the line at -142 and expects it to stay under -155.

line opened -125, now -142; suggests Lopes may get a finish
"give me Diego Lopes the younger fighter that's more in his prime right now uh to get the job done"
LOSS vs Dan Ige
KO (punch) R1 0:22 · UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad · Mar 13, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dan Ige 1 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Gavin Tucker 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dan Ige 1 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Gavin Tucker 0 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dan Ige 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Gavin Tucker 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dan Ige 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Gavin Tucker 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Big Brady picks Gavin Tucker as an underdog, impressed by his recent performances and wrestling. He notes that Ige can be taken down (59% takedown defense) and Tucker is a BJJ black belt with excellent wrestling. He sees the striking as close and expects Tucker to win a close decision by mixing takedowns and volume. He acknowledges Ige has fought better competition but believes Tucker is in his prime.

"I'm gonna take a shot on Gavin Tucker, I'm not gonna bet it as of now unless the line gets too crazy."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Daniel Levi picks Gavin Tucker, believing he should be favored. He praises Tucker's volume, cardio, footwork, and jiu-jitsu, and notes that Tucker overcame adversity in his last fight. He thinks Dan Ige's chance is landing a big bomb, but Tucker's durability and output will win most minutes. He considers Ige overrated and thinks Tucker's skill set is superior.

"At these odds i think it's tucker pass and i will take tucker to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 2, 2021 (11 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Lock likes Tucker as a dog, trusting his gas tank more than Ige's. He thinks Tucker is smoother and more fluid on the feet, and can outstrike Ige as long as he avoids Ige's power and jiu-jitsu. Lock believes Tucker's jiu-jitsu can hold up against Ige's. He notes Ige's wins over Barboza and Bektic were close, and that Tucker's cardio is an advantage.

"i do trust gavin tucker's gas tank a little bit more... i think tucker is a little bit more smooth and more fluid on the feet"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Mar 7, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Dan Ige

The Guru acknowledges Gavin Tucker as a live dog but picks Dan Ige due to his experience and a significant 5-inch reach advantage. He believes Ige's jab will be effective and that Ige has proven himself against higher-level competition like Edson Barboza and Calvin Kattar. He expects a close fight, possibly a split decision, with Ige landing more shots each round. He also notes Tucker's age (34) and injury concerns.

"i'm going to go with dan iger he's the shorter guy he's got a ridiculously long reach he's got a [ __ ] five inch reach advantage"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno · Dec 12, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gavin Tucker 0 106 of 166 63% 123 of 183 7 of 13 53% 0 0 5:14
Billy Quarantillo 0 84 of 178 47% 136 of 233 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gavin Tucker 0 38 of 63 60% 43 of 68 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:58
Billy Quarantillo 0 33 of 69 47% 44 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
2 Gavin Tucker 0 53 of 76 69% 58 of 81 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:18
Billy Quarantillo 0 38 of 69 55% 43 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:03
3 Gavin Tucker 0 15 of 27 55% 22 of 34 4 of 7 57% 0 0 2:58
Billy Quarantillo 0 13 of 40 32% 49 of 79 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gavin Tucker 106 of 166 63% 68 of 122 31 of 37 7 of 7 71 of 122 32 of 41 3 of 3
Billy Quarantillo 84 of 178 47% 45 of 127 33 of 44 6 of 7 55 of 138 29 of 35 0 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gavin Tucker 38 of 63 60% 17 of 41 17 of 18 4 of 4 23 of 47 15 of 16 0 of 0
Billy Quarantillo 33 of 69 47% 18 of 48 12 of 18 3 of 3 25 of 58 8 of 11 0 of 0
2 Gavin Tucker 53 of 76 69% 39 of 59 12 of 15 2 of 2 36 of 53 15 of 21 2 of 2
Billy Quarantillo 38 of 69 55% 20 of 48 16 of 19 2 of 2 25 of 56 13 of 13 0 of 0
3 Gavin Tucker 15 of 27 55% 12 of 22 2 of 4 1 of 1 12 of 22 2 of 4 1 of 1
Billy Quarantillo 13 of 40 32% 7 of 31 5 of 7 1 of 2 5 of 24 8 of 11 0 of 5
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 9, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Billy Quarantillo

Big Brady picks Billy Quarantillo to win by decision. He likes Quarantillo's high output, durability, cardio, and ground game. He notes Tucker's 40% takedown defense and that Rick Glenn was able to take him down four times, which bodes well for Quarantillo's wrestling.

"give me corn to you by decision here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Billy Quarantillo

Daniel is high on Quarantillo's pressure, volume, and cardio. He questions Tucker's chin and heart, and thinks Quarantillo will walk him down and possibly finish him. He notes Quarantillo is in his prime and has paid his dues.

possible finish
"i'm gonna go with billy q uh to come out here and possibly finish gavin tucker but regardless i'm picking uh bq to get it done"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 7, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Tucker is the more technical striker with better speed and should be able to outpoint Quarantillo. Quarantillo's pressure style may be neutralized by Tucker's movement and body work. Tucker's jiu-jitsu is also high level, so he can hold his own on the ground. The line is a pick'em, but Tucker is the better all-around fighter.

Tucker via decision; over 1.5 rounds
"i think gavin is just a better better all-around fighter... i'll go with gavin tucker to win this fight via decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Dec 6, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Billy Quarantillo

The MMA Guru picks Billy Quarantillo in a close fight, noting Quarantillo's youth, size, range, and submission defense. He believes Quarantillo gets better as the fight goes on and will win a 29-28 unanimous decision. He acknowledges Gavin Tucker's grappling but thinks Quarantillo can survive the first round and take over.

"i'm gonna go with billy quarantilo getting the job done building as the fight goes on earning himself a 29-28 close competitive unanimous decision"
WIN vs Justin Jaynes
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 1:43 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik · Aug 08, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gavin Tucker 0 87 of 211 41% 88 of 212 1 of 2 50% 4 1 1:24
Justin Jaynes 1 41 of 101 40% 42 of 103 0 of 1 0% 1 1 0:38
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gavin Tucker 0 15 of 48 31% 16 of 49 1 of 1 100% 1 1 0:35
Justin Jaynes 1 28 of 54 51% 29 of 55 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:38
2 Gavin Tucker 0 63 of 137 45% 63 of 137 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Justin Jaynes 0 6 of 30 20% 6 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Gavin Tucker 0 9 of 26 34% 9 of 26 0 of 1 0% 3 0 0:49
Justin Jaynes 0 7 of 17 41% 7 of 18 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gavin Tucker 87 of 211 41% 61 of 177 23 of 30 3 of 4 86 of 207 1 of 3 0 of 1
Justin Jaynes 41 of 101 40% 30 of 84 11 of 17 0 of 0 31 of 87 2 of 2 8 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gavin Tucker 15 of 48 31% 8 of 37 6 of 9 1 of 2 15 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Justin Jaynes 28 of 54 51% 19 of 40 9 of 14 0 of 0 19 of 41 1 of 1 8 of 12
2 Gavin Tucker 63 of 137 45% 45 of 115 16 of 20 2 of 2 63 of 137 0 of 0 0 of 0
Justin Jaynes 6 of 30 20% 5 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Gavin Tucker 9 of 26 34% 8 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0 8 of 22 1 of 3 0 of 1
Justin Jaynes 7 of 17 41% 6 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Aug 5, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Justin Jaynes

Big Brady picks Jaynes but with caution due to his weight cut to featherweight. He likes Jaynes' power and finishing ability, noting Tucker's poor striking defense. He predicts a first-round knockout for Jaynes, but will wait for weigh-ins before betting.

"i do like james to win and i probably will bet him but i'm going to wait until the weigh-ins before i do put a bed"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 7, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Daniel Levi picks Gavin Tucker, but with low confidence. He notes that Tucker is the cleaner fighter with good footwork and a black belt in jiu-jitsu, but his chin and tendency to stop fighting under adversity are concerns. Levi also mentions that Justin Jaynes has power but is sloppy and may gas out if he doesn't get a first-round knockout. He believes Tucker will win a close decision if he doesn't get caught.

"i gotta lean with gavin tucker here man i think he's a cleaner fighter all across the board"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 4, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Gavin Tucker

Tucker is a black belt under Henzo Gracie with high-level jiu-jitsu and striking. Jaynes is a power puncher with limited skills, and Tucker's leg kicks and movement should neutralize him. The smaller UFC Apex cage still gives Tucker room to stick and move. Tucker likely wins by submission in the second or third round as Jaynes fades.

third round submission
"I like Gavin Tucker a lot here I think this is a tailor-made matchup for him"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 3, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Justin Jaynes

The MMA Guru picks Justin Jaynes because he is the bigger fighter, having fought at lightweight, and is cutting back down to featherweight. He notes that Gavin Tucker hasn't fought since UFC 240 and is 34 years old, which is bad time off. He believes Tucker may have found his ceiling after losing to Rick Glenn, while Jaynes is riding momentum from a first-round TKO over Frank Camacho.

"justin james is gonna win he's the bigger guy he just fought frank camacho at lightweight"
WIN vs SeungWoo Choi
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 3:17 · UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar · Jul 27, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gavin Tucker 0 37 of 62 59% 49 of 77 5 of 13 38% 2 1 6:05
SeungWoo Choi 0 23 of 96 23% 42 of 116 2 of 2 100% 0 0 0:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gavin Tucker 0 11 of 15 73% 17 of 21 2 of 5 40% 0 1 2:18
SeungWoo Choi 0 7 of 22 31% 16 of 31 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:24
2 Gavin Tucker 0 20 of 37 54% 24 of 44 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:44
SeungWoo Choi 0 11 of 52 21% 14 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Gavin Tucker 0 6 of 10 60% 8 of 12 1 of 6 16% 2 0 2:03
SeungWoo Choi 0 5 of 22 22% 12 of 29 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:26
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gavin Tucker 37 of 62 59% 21 of 40 7 of 11 9 of 11 24 of 45 5 of 7 8 of 10
SeungWoo Choi 23 of 96 23% 11 of 74 12 of 21 0 of 1 13 of 80 10 of 16 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gavin Tucker 11 of 15 73% 5 of 9 1 of 1 5 of 5 6 of 10 2 of 2 3 of 3
SeungWoo Choi 7 of 22 31% 4 of 17 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 17 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Gavin Tucker 20 of 37 54% 12 of 24 4 of 7 4 of 6 14 of 27 1 of 3 5 of 7
SeungWoo Choi 11 of 52 21% 6 of 40 5 of 11 0 of 1 7 of 45 4 of 7 0 of 0
3 Gavin Tucker 6 of 10 60% 4 of 7 2 of 3 0 of 0 4 of 8 2 of 2 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 5 of 22 22% 1 of 17 4 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 18 2 of 4 0 of 0
LOSS vs Ricky Glenn
Decision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–24, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 · Sep 09, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ricky Glenn 0 23 of 82 28% 43 of 105 0 of 4 0% 1 0 0:15
Gavin Tucker 1 142 of 237 59% 184 of 289 4 of 7 57% 1 0 7:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ricky Glenn 0 17 of 58 29% 26 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:11
Gavin Tucker 1 23 of 55 41% 26 of 58 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
2 Ricky Glenn 0 4 of 15 26% 10 of 24 0 of 2 0% 1 0 0:00
Gavin Tucker 0 35 of 58 60% 49 of 74 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:49
3 Ricky Glenn 0 2 of 9 22% 7 of 14 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Gavin Tucker 0 84 of 124 67% 109 of 157 0 of 1 0% 0 0 3:56
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ricky Glenn 23 of 82 28% 14 of 69 5 of 8 4 of 5 12 of 64 9 of 15 2 of 3
Gavin Tucker 142 of 237 59% 96 of 182 40 of 47 6 of 8 31 of 68 23 of 39 88 of 130
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ricky Glenn 17 of 58 29% 9 of 46 4 of 7 4 of 5 11 of 50 6 of 8 0 of 0
Gavin Tucker 23 of 55 41% 14 of 41 6 of 9 3 of 5 18 of 47 5 of 8 0 of 0
2 Ricky Glenn 4 of 15 26% 3 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 9 2 of 5 1 of 1
Gavin Tucker 35 of 58 60% 22 of 42 11 of 14 2 of 2 3 of 7 10 of 18 22 of 33
3 Ricky Glenn 2 of 9 22% 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 5 1 of 2 1 of 2
Gavin Tucker 84 of 124 67% 60 of 99 23 of 24 1 of 1 10 of 14 8 of 13 66 of 97
WIN vs Sam Sicilia
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne · Feb 19, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gavin Tucker 0 10 of 87 11% 10 of 88 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Sam Sicilia 0 55 of 163 33% 60 of 168 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gavin Tucker 0 2 of 12 16% 2 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Sicilia 0 18 of 47 38% 18 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Gavin Tucker 0 2 of 24 8% 2 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Sicilia 0 22 of 60 36% 22 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Gavin Tucker 0 6 of 51 11% 6 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Sam Sicilia 0 15 of 56 26% 20 of 61 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gavin Tucker 10 of 87 11% 9 of 80 0 of 5 1 of 2 9 of 84 1 of 3 0 of 0
Sam Sicilia 55 of 163 33% 25 of 120 12 of 25 18 of 18 53 of 159 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gavin Tucker 2 of 12 16% 1 of 9 0 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Sicilia 18 of 47 38% 7 of 34 4 of 6 7 of 7 17 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Gavin Tucker 2 of 24 8% 2 of 22 0 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Sicilia 22 of 60 36% 8 of 39 3 of 10 11 of 11 22 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Gavin Tucker 6 of 51 11% 6 of 49 0 of 2 0 of 0 5 of 48 1 of 3 0 of 0
Sam Sicilia 15 of 56 26% 10 of 47 5 of 9 0 of 0 14 of 53 1 of 3 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi - Fight History
LOSS vs Kevin Vallejos
KO R1 3:09 · UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 · Mar 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
SeungWoo Choi 0 16 of 44 36% 16 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kevin Vallejos 1 14 of 27 51% 26 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 SeungWoo Choi 0 16 of 44 36% 16 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kevin Vallejos 1 14 of 27 51% 26 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
SeungWoo Choi 16 of 44 36% 4 of 20 1 of 8 11 of 16 16 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kevin Vallejos 14 of 27 51% 4 of 12 3 of 6 7 of 9 13 of 26 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 SeungWoo Choi 16 of 44 36% 4 of 20 1 of 8 11 of 16 16 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kevin Vallejos 14 of 27 51% 4 of 12 3 of 6 7 of 9 13 of 26 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Angelo picks Kevin Vallejos over Choi Seung-woo. He is very confident in Vallejos, citing his power, speed, and the fact that Choi has been knocked out recently. He notes that UFC debuts can be nerve-wracking but believes Vallejos is the real deal. He expects the odds to move further in Vallejos' favor.

"I love Kevin in this matchup and even with the grappling I am very confident in him here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Big Brady picks Kevin Vallejos, calling Choi Seung-woo very hittable and chinny. He notes that Choi has been knocked down or finished by lesser strikers like Michael Trizano and Josh Culibao, and that his style of standing and banging when hurt will backfire against Vallejos. Brady expects Vallejos to land a brutal first-round knockout, predicting he 'pipes up' Choi on sight.

Vallejos first round KO
"give me Kevin vallejos to win this fight by a brutal brutal first round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Cody picks Christian Leroy Duncan, citing his speed, movement, and ability to finish. He notes that Eric Anders has been knocked down in his last three fights and is 38 years old. He believes Duncan can land a knockout, possibly in the first round, and considers the KO prop at plus 200.

KO prop at +200
"CLD by knockout. That may make my card this week to be perfectly honest. Um plus 200 when you've got like a minus 600 favorite."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Connor agrees, noting that Vallejos is a much more natural puncher inside and that Choi will relegate himself to brawling. He compares Vallejos to Jack Della Maddalena without a jab, but still fearsome. He also mentions that Vallejos looks for ways in off his opponent's offense and is a damn good combination puncher once he gets you out of position.

"I'm going to take Vallejos."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Jan 31, 2024 (409 days before fight)

Daniel does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup briefly but does not state a preference or bet.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

The host believes this is a horrible matchup for Choi, who may have an output advantage but will eventually be caught by Vallejos crashing the pocket with big shots that put him clean out.

knockout
"I believe this is a horrible matchup for Troy he might have the output Advantage here against valos but I think it's just a matter of time before valos is able to crash the Pocket land those big shots on …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2025 (fight day)

Paul also picks Duncan, noting that Anders is a low-volume fighter who has been dropped early in recent fights. He believes Duncan's speed and athleticism will be too much, and he expects a finish. He is considering the KO prop as well.

"I think he's improving. They've not given him the easiest run. Anders isn't the easiest fight, but you should be able to just use that speed, that movement, keep him off of you, outpoint him at the very least."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

The MMA Guru is very high on Kevin Vallejos, calling him the 'people's Main Event' and a real deal prospect. He praises his striking, head movement, and defensive responsibility, noting he took Jean Silva to a decision on the Contender Series at age 21. He criticizes Choi Seung-woo's bad chin and knockout losses, including to Mike Trizano. He predicts Vallejos will get a TKO finish in the second round, possibly late first, and believes he will go far in the division.

Second round TKO (maybe late first)
"I'm going with Kevin valos this is the people's Main Event okay you might not know it yet but you will after this Kevin vallejos is the real [ __ ] deal"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Vallejos

Zane picks Vallejos because he believes Vallejos has a good chin (going three rounds with John Silva) and that Choi will eventually brawl, which favors Vallejos' natural pocket punching. He notes that Vallejos is a good combination puncher with defense, and that Choi cannot fight from distance forever. He acknowledges the competition level concern but thinks Vallejos has the tools.

Odds: Vallejos opened -384, now -636; Choi opened +248, now +424. Zane says the line is too wide but Vallejos deserves to be a favorite.
"I think I'm going to pick Vallejos, not just because he's a witch."
LOSS vs Steve Garcia
TKO (punches) R1 1:36 · UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba · Jul 20, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Steve Garcia 1 15 of 27 55% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:37
SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 15 60% 9 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Steve Garcia 1 15 of 27 55% 18 of 34 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:37
SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 15 60% 9 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Steve Garcia 15 of 27 55% 10 of 19 2 of 5 3 of 3 9 of 19 1 of 2 5 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 9 of 15 60% 7 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2 9 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Steve Garcia 15 of 27 55% 10 of 19 2 of 5 3 of 3 9 of 19 1 of 2 5 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 9 of 15 60% 7 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 2 9 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Seung Woo Choi vs. Steve Garcia
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garcia (-148), Choi (+124)

Round 1
Finding himself in the unexpected situation of serving as the co-main event after the cancelation of Brad Tavares vs. Jun Yong Park, “Mean Machine” Garcia (15-5, 4-2 UFC) is ready to rise the occasion and lock down his fourth win in a row. The Jackson-Wink fighter will try to hand Choi (11-6, 4-5 UFC) his fourth loss in five fights, and the two featherweights will likely meet in the middle and throw down. When they do, referee Herb Dean will be hanging on tight. There is a touch of gloves, and Garcia is the initial aggressor as he gets into the center of the cage and lands a stomp kick to the knee. Garcia ducks back to avoid two looping hooks, only to race forward and bump into Choi’s forehead to tie him up. Garcia ties up a leg but is unable to put the South Korean down, and when Choi escapes, he throws hands. Garcia welcomes the exchange, and when things settle down, he lands another kick to the knee. Choi chambers and fires a low kick that puts Garcia down to a knee, and Garcia climbs back up and gets swept with another kick. Garcia wades forward, thinks about throwing a front kick and lets it go to stand and bang. Stand and bang is exactly what “Mean Machine” does, rocking Choi and getting clipped in a destructive exchange.
Garcia lands the cleaner of the blows as he continues to slug it out, and he knocks Choi off-balance with a left hand and floors him with another bomb of a left. Choi turns to his side and then knees in an effort to shell up and survive, but Garcia is a man possessed at getting the win. Garcia stings “Sting” repeatedly with hammerfists, raining down a seemingly unending onslaught of fists until Dean has no choice but to stop the fight.
Choi looks up at Dean quizzically as blood streams from his mouth, and Garcia runs to the cage wall to scream and then scales it to shout even louder. This is a big moment for Garcia, who has now picked up four straight knockout victories. The triumphant Garcia calls for an MMA fight against Dan Ige, a popular name lately, while also calling out commentator Daniel Cormier for a golf match.

The Official Result
Steve Garcia def. Seung Woo Choi R1 1:36 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

Angelo picks Steve Garcia because he is sneaky good with five UFC wins all by KO/TKO. He believes Garcia's striking and wrestling are there, and that Choi Seung-woo has been finished before. He has placed a bet on Garcia at -140 and expects the line to move.

bet placed at -140
"Steve Garcia is the pick I got a nice little bet on him at minus 140"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

Cody also picks Garcia but with less confidence, noting Garcia's own durability issues and the fact that both fighters have been dropped. He sees the fight as close to 50/50 and suggests taking Choi if plus money is available. He emphasizes the under 2.5 rounds as the best bet, expecting a violent finish.

"I got one guy that's on a three-fight winning streak... I got to get the guy in the three-fight winning streak."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

Daniel Vreeland picks Steve Garcia by knockout, comparing the fight to a coin flip but ultimately choosing Garcia. He notes both fighters have high knockdown rates and can be dropped, but Garcia's size (6'0", 75" reach) and recent form (5 knockdowns in last 3 fights) give him the edge. He expects a stand-up war ending in a Garcia knockout.

by KO
"heads we're gonna go with Steve Garcia here to uh drop Troy a couple times and then all out War"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

Garcia is a -140 favorite. He relies on his knockout power and has a three-fight KO streak. Choi is more technical but has been finished before. Garcia can survive early pressure and land a big shot to get the KO. I prefer Garcia by knockout rather than moneyline, as his KO line is around +130.

Garcia by knockout
"I would rather Garcia by knockout rather than Garcia moneyline at minus 140"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

Paul likes Garcia's momentum and power, noting his three-fight winning streak with five knockdowns. He questions Choi's durability, pointing out Choi has been knocked down five times in his last three fights. Paul thinks Garcia's power is the difference and expects a knockout, though he acknowledges both have shaky chins.

"I think it's Steve all day here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Steve Garcia

The MMA Guru picks Steve Garcia, noting he has doubted Garcia before but he keeps winning. He highlights Garcia's recent finishes over Malik El Kousa, Shannon Nurnbeck, and Chase Hooper, and his training at Jackson Wink. He points out Choi Seung-woo's questionable chin, getting wobbled in most fights, and believes Garcia's power and size at 145 will be too much.

"I'm gonna go with um Steve Garcia I've doubted Steve Garcia enough"
WIN vs Jarno Errens
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie · Aug 26, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
SeungWoo Choi 1 56 of 115 48% 108 of 179 1 of 1 100% 0 0 5:21
Jarno Errens 1 30 of 76 39% 40 of 88 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 SeungWoo Choi 0 26 of 52 50% 29 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:55
Jarno Errens 0 18 of 41 43% 18 of 41 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:17
2 SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 19 47% 28 of 41 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:34
Jarno Errens 1 4 of 8 50% 14 of 19 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:17
3 SeungWoo Choi 1 21 of 44 47% 51 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:52
Jarno Errens 0 8 of 27 29% 8 of 28 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
SeungWoo Choi 56 of 115 48% 22 of 69 8 of 15 26 of 31 51 of 107 2 of 3 3 of 5
Jarno Errens 30 of 76 39% 13 of 47 6 of 14 11 of 15 30 of 73 0 of 2 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 SeungWoo Choi 26 of 52 50% 10 of 32 4 of 6 12 of 14 24 of 49 2 of 3 0 of 0
Jarno Errens 18 of 41 43% 9 of 25 3 of 6 6 of 10 18 of 39 0 of 2 0 of 0
2 SeungWoo Choi 9 of 19 47% 5 of 13 1 of 2 3 of 4 6 of 14 0 of 0 3 of 5
Jarno Errens 4 of 8 50% 2 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 SeungWoo Choi 21 of 44 47% 7 of 24 3 of 7 11 of 13 21 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jarno Errens 8 of 27 29% 2 of 16 3 of 8 3 of 3 8 of 27 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Aug 20, 2023 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Angelo acknowledges Choi's three-fight losing streak and recent TKO loss, but notes that his losses came against solid competition. He highlights Choi's technical striking, leg kicks, and takedown setups. Despite the losing streak, he believes Choi is the better fighter and picks him, but with no bet due to the streak.

"sengu Choi is going to be the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 21, 2023 (5 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady acknowledges Choi Seung-woo's three-fight skid but believes he is much better than his record indicates, with good striking and power. He thinks Choi has improved his takedown defense enough to keep the fight standing. He is not a fan of Jarno Errens, citing a lackluster debut and disadvantages in volume and power. He expects Choi to outpoint Errens over 15 minutes.

decision
"give me a song with Troy to win this fight I'll take him to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jarno Errens

Cody picks Errens as an underdog, noting his Dutch kickboxing style and volume. He thinks Choi's chin is deteriorating and Errens can outwork him. Cody likes the plus money value.

"the plus money is right to me I'd be willing to take a flight on the underdog"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel leans Choi Seung-woo, noting that he is the more skilled mixed martial artist. He mentions that Choi has a habit of dropping his right hand and getting countered with left hooks, and his chin may be damaged. He acknowledges that Errens has a good submission game and takedown defense issues. He is not confident and advises staying away from this fight.

"I'm gonna lean with Troy but it's it's not a confident pick and you know unless someone has a strong read I'd advise most likely staying away from this fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Aug 26, 2023 (fight day)
Jarno Errens

James leans towards Jarno Errens as an underdog, citing Choi's poor durability and defensive technique after being dropped multiple times in recent fights. He believes the fight will be a 15-minute striking affair and trusts Errens' durability and technical striking over Choi's power. He notes the line has moved but originally Errens was at +180, which he sees as value.

"I'm gonna lean to the general Erin side here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jarno Errens

The host notes that Choi Seung-woo is on a 0-3 slump, has been finished in two of those fights, and his durability is declining. He highlights Choi's poor striking defense and vulnerability to grappling. Jarno Errens has a judo background and decent power, and the host believes his power and grappling advantage will allow him to pull off the upset. The host mentions that Errens' odds have moved from +210 to +140/+150, indicating public support.

"I think his big Power and grappling advantage in this matchup will allow him to string the upset against the Korean fighter here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 24, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jarno Errens

Paul picks Errens, noting Choi's low volume and defensive issues. He expects Errens to pressure and land more strikes. Paul is not confident but likes the underdog value.

"I'll side with the underdog at plus 135 here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2023 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru picks Choi Seung-woo over Jarno Errens, citing Errens' lack of skill and poor performance against William Gomez. He notes Choi's mixed results but highlights his experience at a high level, takedown defense, and composure. He believes Choi's striking and clinch strength will be decisive, predicting a TKO finish.

TKO finish predicted
"I'm gonna have to go with the composure of sun Wu Choi I think he's got more experience at a high level as well more experience at a ubfc level especially"
LOSS vs Michael Trizano
KO (punches) R1 4:51 · UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira · Nov 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Trizano 2 32 of 53 60% 34 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
SeungWoo Choi 1 26 of 73 35% 26 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Trizano 2 32 of 53 60% 34 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:14
SeungWoo Choi 1 26 of 73 35% 26 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Trizano 32 of 53 60% 28 of 49 2 of 2 2 of 2 21 of 40 1 of 1 10 of 12
SeungWoo Choi 26 of 73 35% 19 of 61 3 of 7 4 of 5 25 of 70 1 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Trizano 32 of 53 60% 28 of 49 2 of 2 2 of 2 21 of 40 1 of 1 10 of 12
SeungWoo Choi 26 of 73 35% 19 of 61 3 of 7 4 of 5 25 of 70 1 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Angelo sees this as a close firefight between two forward-pressure strikers. He thinks Trizano may be more technical, but Choi is more well-rounded, has higher volume, and is more durable. He notes that Choi's losses were close and he showed durability. He is not sure about betting because the odds are close, but he leans Choi to win.

significant strikes props on BetOnline
"I like Troy to win but I mean it's likely going to be a fire fight so I think it's closer than the odds are telling you"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady picks SeungWoo Choi to win by decision. He believes Choi is the better striker with more power, and that Trizano doesn't wrestle (only 1-2 takedowns in UFC). He notes Choi has struggled with grapplers but Trizano won't take him down. He criticizes Trizano's recent performances, being outlanded by Lucas Almeida and Chidi Njokuani. He expects a striking match where Choi's power and volume earn him a decision.

Choi by decision
"give me Troy to win enjoy to win this one by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Cody picks Choi, arguing that Trizano looks washed and disinterested, with poor striking defense and low volume. He notes that Choi is long, rangy, and versatile with his Muay Thai, and that Trizano has been getting hit and knocked down recently. Cody believes Choi will pick Trizano apart from distance and win by decision or TKO.

"I'm taking Troy one of us is going to be right unfortunately and none of us is going to be wrong."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Connor picks Choi, noting that Trizano's low output and discomfort in exchanges play into Choi's strengths as a sharp counter puncher. He points out that Choi is dangerous at range and Trizano struggles to force the kind of messy fight that would make Choi uncomfortable. Connor also mentions that Trizano's recent improvements in aggression are not natural, and he still looks uncomfortable in exchanges.

"I think I'm taking Sun Wuchoi as bad as he looked against Kula Bell..."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi, believing he will land the bigger shots and potentially knock out Trizano. He notes that Trizano has a low-volume point-fighting style and may be on a losing streak, while Choi has faced tougher competition and shown resilience. Levi thinks Choi's power and experience will be too much for Trizano, who has confidence issues after recent losses.

"I'm going with song with Choi to get back on track here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The host sees Choi as the slicker striker with better range and combinations. He notes Trizano struggles when at a striking disadvantage, as seen in losses to L'Empereur and Almeida. Choi's size and reach should allow him to touch Trizano from the outside and win a decision. The host also likes the over 2.5 rounds if the price is right, expecting a kickboxing match without a finish.

over 2.5 rounds (if even money or plus money)
"I do lean the choice side though I do think it's slightly closer than the odds indicate but I still think that Troy ends up getting his hand raise"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Michael Trizano

Paul leans towards Trizano, noting that Choi's volume is low and that Trizano could mix in takedowns. He acknowledges that Trizano has looked bad recently but thinks the fight is close and that Trizano's wrestling could be the difference. Paul is not confident and calls it a stay-away fight.

"I'll ever so slightly lean towards trizano I wish he had more of a wrestling game than he does."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru confidently picks SeungWoo Choi, reasoning that Trizano lacks takedown ability and Choi has great takedown defense. He criticizes Trizano's basic, goofy striking and notes that Choi has dealt with unorthodox fighters before. He predicts a 30-27 decision for Choi.

"I'm going with seongwoo choya only because Mike trizano doesn't really be he hasn't really shown an ability to get people to the ground"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Zane picks Choi, agreeing that Trizano's low output and lack of comfort in exchanges make him vulnerable. He notes that Choi is sharp and dangerous in the first layer of striking, where Trizano tends to get stuck. Zane also points out that Trizano's jab and low kicks may have success, but he won't be able to make Choi uncomfortable enough to win.

"I can't trust Trisano to fight that fight."
LOSS vs Josh Culibao
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Josh Culibao 0 46 of 163 28% 64 of 184 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:30
SeungWoo Choi 2 51 of 111 45% 69 of 132 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:58
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Josh Culibao 0 17 of 62 27% 18 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:25
SeungWoo Choi 1 23 of 47 48% 35 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
2 Josh Culibao 0 16 of 59 27% 16 of 59 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
SeungWoo Choi 1 19 of 43 44% 19 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
3 Josh Culibao 0 13 of 42 30% 30 of 62 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:05
SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 21 42% 15 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Josh Culibao 46 of 163 28% 29 of 137 6 of 14 11 of 12 39 of 147 4 of 10 3 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 51 of 111 45% 40 of 97 7 of 9 4 of 5 40 of 95 6 of 8 5 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Josh Culibao 17 of 62 27% 13 of 56 1 of 3 3 of 3 15 of 58 2 of 4 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 23 of 47 48% 20 of 42 3 of 4 0 of 1 17 of 36 2 of 4 4 of 7
2 Josh Culibao 16 of 59 27% 10 of 50 2 of 4 4 of 5 15 of 56 1 of 3 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 19 of 43 44% 16 of 39 1 of 2 2 of 2 17 of 41 1 of 1 1 of 1
3 Josh Culibao 13 of 42 30% 6 of 31 3 of 7 4 of 4 9 of 33 1 of 3 3 of 6
SeungWoo Choi 9 of 21 42% 4 of 16 3 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 18 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Angelo picks Choi, expecting him to keep the fight technical and avoid a brawl. He notes Culibao is tough and has power but is willing to fight dirty, which could be dangerous. However, he believes Choi's technical striking and ability to mix in takedowns will secure a decision win.

"i like joining this fight i think he can keep it technical avoid that phone booth brawl and cruise to a solid striking showcase win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady picks SeungWoo Choi to win by decision. He notes that Choi is a very good Muay Thai striker with power, while Culibao has zero takedown accuracy in the UFC and is unlikely to take Choi down. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Choi has the advantage.

"I got to favor SeungWoo Choi here I think he's the better striker so yeah pretty simple fight to break down for me pretty straightforward pick here give me SeungWoo Choi to win by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Cody picks Choi, citing his length, Muay Thai background, and improved takedown defense. He thinks Choi's striking will be too much for Culibao, who is shorter and less technical. He expects Choi to win by decision or late stoppage.

"i think this is a good spot for him to jump back on track"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his physicality, knockout power, and technical striking. He is not fully convinced about Josh Culibao's ceiling and sees Choi as the better athlete. He notes that Culibao's best chance is to win competitive striking exchanges, but Choi's advantages should prevail. He is not betting the fight.

"my pick is gonna be song and also the size difference here I'm very curious to see how apparent that is"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Choi is the better striker with range and power. Culibao wants to brawl, but Choi can stay on the outside and pick him apart. Culibao's chin is granite, so a decision is likely. Choi is a solid parlay piece. I think Choi wins by decision.

Choi by decision (+175)
"I think troy is the better fighter better striker and if culibao's chin wasn't made of granite i think he'd be able to knock him out here but i think he's going to style on him for the majority of …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Choi's length and striking advantage. He thinks Culibao's takedowns won't be effective and that Choi will control the distance. He sees Choi as the rightful favorite.

"choi is the rightful favor minus 235 seems like a high price to be paying"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru picks SeungWoo Choi by 29-28 decision, but warns not to sleep on Josh Culibao. He acknowledges Culibao's skills and close fight with Jordan, but believes Choi's superior stand-up, reach advantage, and Muay Thai credentials will give him the edge. He expects Choi to win the first two rounds clearly, with Culibao possibly taking the third due to volume. He rates Choi's chances at 6.5-7 out of 10, not higher.

"i'm gonna go sung wu choy but do not sleep on joshua calibal"
LOSS vs Alex Caceres
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 3:31 · UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori · Oct 23, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alex Caceres 0 46 of 64 71% 54 of 72 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:49
SeungWoo Choi 1 33 of 98 33% 38 of 104 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alex Caceres 0 29 of 39 74% 29 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
SeungWoo Choi 1 19 of 65 29% 22 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
2 Alex Caceres 0 17 of 25 68% 25 of 33 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:49
SeungWoo Choi 0 14 of 33 42% 16 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alex Caceres 46 of 64 71% 22 of 33 13 of 17 11 of 14 37 of 54 9 of 10 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 33 of 98 33% 18 of 78 11 of 16 4 of 4 26 of 85 3 of 3 4 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alex Caceres 29 of 39 74% 12 of 18 9 of 12 8 of 9 26 of 36 3 of 3 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 19 of 65 29% 13 of 56 2 of 5 4 of 4 15 of 55 0 of 0 4 of 10
2 Alex Caceres 17 of 25 68% 10 of 15 4 of 5 3 of 5 11 of 18 6 of 7 0 of 0
SeungWoo Choi 14 of 33 42% 5 of 22 9 of 11 0 of 0 11 of 30 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 20, 2021 (3 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Angelo thinks Choi is the more technical striker with better takedown entries, and should win the fight. However, he loves the value on Caceres as a +200 underdog and already grabbed a +3.5 bet on him at -115, meaning Caceres only needs to win one round. He thinks Caceres is tough enough to not get finished and can steal a round. He likes the more/more on the monkey knife fight.

grabbed a +3.5 bet on Caceres at -115; likes more/more on monkey knife fight; won't spend 9200 on Choi in DraftKings
"i am loving the value at an at a two to one underdog alice casera so i already grabbed a plus three and a half bet on him at minus 115"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2021 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady picks Choi as the younger, improving fighter who lands harder shots. He notes Caceres is durable but expects Choi to win a clear decision, though he warns that betting a -300 favorite to decision is risky due to poor judging. He sees Choi's takedown defense as a potential issue but believes he's worked on it.

"i think troy gets it done again landing the harder shots"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Cody is confident in Seung Woo Choi, citing his size, reach, and striking acumen. He notes that Choi is a former Korean Muay Thai champion and has improved his takedown defense. Cody contrasts Choi's recent wins against solid competition with Alex Caceres's wins over lower-level opponents. He points out that Caceres has not scored a clean knockout since 2010 and lacks the wrestling to take Choi down. Cody believes Choi will out-strike Caceres and potentially finish him.

Top ticket material; parlay piece
"sue wong choi looks like he'll probably be top ticket material this week i just really like how he matches up with one bruce lee caceres"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2021 (1 day before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Lock picks Choi based on power and striking. He thinks Choi's power will be the difference and that Caceres will be outmatched on the feet. He expects Choi to win by decision, noting Caceres is experienced but may be on the decline.

Choi by decision +100
"i like troy i like troy decision which i currently think is sitting around plus 100"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 21, 2021 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Caceres is not used to facing opponents with reach and height advantages. He highlights Choi's cleaner, harder strikes and Caceres's lack of takedown threat. Paul mentions that Caceres's recent wins are over fighters who are no longer in the UFC or are fringe roster members. He believes Choi's size and striking will be too much for Caceres.

"going through alex caceres's last 10 fights which brings you back to 2016. he's landed three takedowns fact so he's throwing the harder cleaner more technical strikes it's gonna be choi"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2021 (6 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his Muay Thai skills, reach, and physical advantages. He questions Alex Caceres' level of competition and believes Choi will out-strike him, particularly with leg kicks, winning by decision.

"i'm going to go have seong wu choi here i think it's a logical prediction to make"
WIN vs Julian Erosa
TKO (punches) R1 1:37 · UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige · Jun 19, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
SeungWoo Choi 0 10 of 20 50% 10 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Erosa 1 13 of 29 44% 14 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 SeungWoo Choi 0 10 of 20 50% 10 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julian Erosa 1 13 of 29 44% 14 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
SeungWoo Choi 10 of 20 50% 5 of 14 2 of 3 3 of 3 10 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Erosa 13 of 29 44% 10 of 25 2 of 2 1 of 2 7 of 22 0 of 0 6 of 7
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 SeungWoo Choi 10 of 20 50% 5 of 14 2 of 3 3 of 3 10 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julian Erosa 13 of 29 44% 10 of 25 2 of 2 1 of 2 7 of 22 0 of 0 6 of 7
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Julian Erosa

Angelo picks Julian Erosa, noting his violence, aggression, and multiple ways to win (KO or submission). He acknowledges Erosa relies on his chin but thinks he has more paths to victory than Choi, who can only win by KO. He has a bet on the fight going under 2.5 rounds at +125 and also bet on it not going the distance at +105.

under 2.5 rounds (+125, half unit); does not go the distance (+105)
"julian rosa is my pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 15, 2021 (4 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady thinks Choi is the much better striker and that Erosa is very hittable with a weak chin. He expects a knockout, predicting Choi finishes Erosa in the second round. He considered betting but decided to pass.

win by KO in round 2
"I'm going to take sangwoo choi to knock out juliana rosa"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2021 (3 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Cody picks Choi, citing Choi's physical strength, excellent jab, and durability. He acknowledges Erosa's pressure and volume but believes Choi's jab and ability to stay on the outside will carry him to a competitive decision win. He notes Choi's fatigue in the third round of his last fight but thinks Erosa's pressure could be neutralized.

"i myself see my uh myself going with seongwoo choi again i think that he's physically stronger than woodson uh he's got a better chin than nate lanware"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2021 (1 day before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his physicality, size, and technical striking. He notes that Choi has been improving and is now more comfortable in the UFC, while Erosa has a tendency to fight with his hands down and has been knocked out multiple times. He believes Choi's technique and strength will be too much for Erosa, and expects a dominant performance.

"i'm going to go with sung wu choi to get the biggest uh biggest win of his career and also have the best performance of his career"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 16, 2021 (3 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Jacob picks SeungWoo Choi, citing his speed and precise in-and-out striking. He believes Choi can stuff takedowns and keep the distance, avoiding Erosa's dirty boxing and submissions. He also mentions a pattern where Erosa alternates wins and losses, predicting a loss here. He has Choi in his lineup.

"sing woo choy is gonna win and he's in my lineup."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 17, 2021 (2 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The host picks SeungWoo Choi, believing his Muay Thai and technical striking will overcome Julian Erosa's wild, loopy shots. He notes Choi's improving takedown defense and that Erosa's brawling style plays into Choi's counters. He expects Choi to keep the fight standing and outpoint Erosa over 15 minutes, possibly earning a decision. He mentions Choi's win over Youssef Zalal as evidence of his growth, and that Erosa's wrestling is not better than Gavin Tucker's, which Choi handled.

Choi by decision at +190 mentioned as a good line
"i'm gonna take troy to win this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 16, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Julian Erosa

Paul picks Erosa by KO as a YOLO play, noting Erosa's recent knockout wins and Choi's history of being knocked out. He also bets under 2.5 rounds, expecting a finish. He acknowledges the risk but likes Erosa's pressure and volume.

Erosa by KO +700; under 2.5 rounds +120
"i'm on the under two and a half plus 120 and i'm on uh juicy j by ko plus 700 tell me i'm wrong"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2021 (fight day)
Julian Erosa

The MMA Guru picks Julian Erosa to win by submission (d'arce choke) in round three. He expects Choi to land good shots early, but Erosa will make it messy in round two, forcing clinches and takedowns. In round three, Erosa will lure Choi into a war, Choi will lose composure and shoot a bad takedown, allowing Erosa to latch on a d'arce choke.

submission win, third round, d'arce choke
"i'm going to go with julian arosa darsh choke submission in round three"
WIN vs Youssef Zalal
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov · Feb 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
SeungWoo Choi 0 41 of 109 37% 73 of 144 2 of 3 66% 0 0 3:39
Youssef Zalal 0 23 of 47 48% 46 of 70 3 of 9 33% 1 1 4:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 SeungWoo Choi 0 13 of 54 24% 26 of 67 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:13
Youssef Zalal 0 12 of 24 50% 19 of 31 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:33
2 SeungWoo Choi 0 19 of 37 51% 34 of 53 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:06
Youssef Zalal 0 6 of 14 42% 14 of 22 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:52
3 SeungWoo Choi 0 9 of 18 50% 13 of 24 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:20
Youssef Zalal 0 5 of 9 55% 13 of 17 3 of 5 60% 1 1 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
SeungWoo Choi 41 of 109 37% 25 of 84 10 of 13 6 of 12 26 of 93 12 of 13 3 of 3
Youssef Zalal 23 of 47 48% 12 of 34 9 of 10 2 of 3 21 of 44 1 of 2 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 SeungWoo Choi 13 of 54 24% 7 of 42 4 of 6 2 of 6 9 of 50 4 of 4 0 of 0
Youssef Zalal 12 of 24 50% 5 of 16 6 of 6 1 of 2 12 of 23 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 SeungWoo Choi 19 of 37 51% 14 of 31 3 of 3 2 of 3 10 of 28 8 of 8 1 of 1
Youssef Zalal 6 of 14 42% 4 of 11 1 of 2 1 of 1 5 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 1
3 SeungWoo Choi 9 of 18 50% 4 of 11 3 of 4 2 of 3 7 of 15 0 of 1 2 of 2
Youssef Zalal 5 of 9 55% 3 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Seung Woo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal

Round 1
In yet another bout stung by opponent change after opponent change, “Sting” Choi (8-3, 1-2 UFC) finds himself glad to face anyone inside the cage, drawing a tough matchup against the recently surging Zalal (10-3, 3-1 UFC) also at featherweight. The third man inside the Octagon is referee Chris Tognoni, and the two men are so glad to be competing tonight that they practically hug when touching gloves. Choi opens up with a leg kick that comes up short, and Zalal walks around the outside and similarly misses with his own leg kick. Choi lets loose with a head kick, and he fires off a one-two that makes Zalal bounce off the cage wall. Choi’s punches are drawing reactions out of his opponent, and he just misses with a head kick that blows back Zalal’s hair. Zalal jabs to the body, and he hops forward with a left hand and ducks out of the way before a counter can find him. Zalal sticks his man with a jab, and is in and out with a body strike but he does take a high body kick. Zalal starts talking, and Choi slams him in the leg with a kick. Zalal’s jabs allow him to get out of danger as Choi is loading up on power strikes, and the South Korean does land with a solid right hand but Zalal rolls with it without issue. Choi scores a body kick and glances off with a pair of punches as he wings heavily, but the speed of Zalal is giving his foe issues as he jabs in and out. Zalal chains a strike into a takedown attempt, and he does not secure it but bullies “Sting” into the wire. Choi grinds his elbow on Zalal’s face while defending himself, and Tognoni asks them to stay busy as a stalemate has presented itself. Zalal pushes up high before changing levels for a low double, but Choi keeps his legs spread far enough apart to keep his balance and break the grip. Choi lands a couple heavy shoulder strikes, but Tognoni breaks them apart. Choi steps back and delivers a leg kick, and gets clipped with a left hand on the way in but he lands as well. As they come together and break, “Sting” stings him with an elbow. Choi tags Zalal with a quick counter, and presses Zalal into the fence before dragging Zalal down to punctuate the round right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Choi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Choi

Round 2
Both men jab at the same time to begin the second frame, and Choi walks Zalal down and works him with a left hand. An errant kick from Zalal clanks off the cup, but Choi assures that he is fine and darts forward to pursue a takedown. Zalal, with his back on the fence, jumps up to attack a guillotine choke. In the process, Zalal turns the two around, and he goes after his own takedown while Choi works him with short elbows to the side of the head. Zalal’s single leg takedown attempt ignores a solid elbow to lift Choi’s leg up, but Choi is still able to stay standing on one leg. “The Moroccan Devil” changes it up to a double leg takedown, and Choi keeps elbowing him to break it up. Zalal looks to elevate his opponent, and he does not have the ability to put Choi on his back, leading to Tognoni asking them to keep fighting. Zalal stays pressed on Choi against the cage until Tognoni splits them up. Choi lands a kick on the shoulder, and a few punches clatter off Zalal’s face. Zalal smiles and gets out of the way, but he takes a jab on the chin as he retreats. Choi powers forward with punches before latching on to his opponent for a body lock takedown attempt, but Zalal sees it coming and holds on tight without concern of hitting the canvas. Choi turns the attempt into a throw, and both end up on the ground but Choi cannot keep him there. Zalal looks for upkicks that do not score, and when he stands up, he goes after a flying knee. Choi brushes it aside and cracks him with a right hand. Zalal scores a knee when Choi tries to clinch up, and he connects with a jab but eats a right hand. Choi catches a kick and pushes Zalal down, but Zalal pops up. The two both leap with flying strikes at the same time, and they crash into the fence without landing much of note before the second round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Choi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Choi
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Choi

Round 3
The glove touch commences the final round, and Choi is looking for knockout blows early as he slings head kick and big punches. He backs Zalal away with a kick and then follows it with a slapping leg kick, and his forward momentum bowls Zalal over. “The Moroccan Devil” is sly, and he rolls through to stand back up, where he re-presents his jab. Choi crashes forward with strikes to clinch, and this time, Zalal is not interested in engaging like this. Choi gathers himself and attempts this again, so Zalal jumps guard for a guillotine choke. As there is nothing to it, Zalal bails on it and spins around to attack a double leg takedown. Choi stands him back up, and for the first time, Zalal lifts him up and sets him down. Zalal immediately attacks a guillotine choke, and he rolls to mount as it is locked in fairly tight. Choi grits it out, and he puts Zalal on his back, so Zalal throws his legs up for a triangle choke. The South Korean is not remotely flustered, as he breaks the posture and sits down in Zalal’s guard. Choi drops down a shoulder strike to put Zalal flat on his back, and Zalal sits up only to get dropped back down. Zalal uses upkicks to back Choi off, and as Choi avoids them, he vaults back up. Zalal lands a quick jab but takes two punches for it, and he changes levels for a single leg takedown. Choi defends it by grabbing the fence, and Tognoni does not call it as Zalal is still pushing to try to complete it. Choi sits against the fence and stands up, but Zalal scoops him up and hits a double. “Sting” stands up once more without issue, and he allows Zalal to take his back for a moment. Zalal defends a takedown attempt with a guillotine choke, and he keeps his balance as Choi nearly has him down. Choi stays heavy, keeping his full body weight pressed on his opponent, so Zalal latches on to one final guillotine choke. It is not there, and time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Choi)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Zalal)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zalal (29-28 Choi)

The Official Result
Seung Woo Choi def. Youssef Zalal via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Big Brady picks the underdog SeungWoo Choi, disagreeing with the line that has Zalal as a heavy favorite. He notes that Zalal may struggle to take Choi down, and if the fight stays standing, Choi's striking is very impressive. He also mentions that Zalal is coming in on short notice, which adds to his uncertainty. He is not overly confident but likes the value at plus money.

odds comment: Zalal minus 255 is too wide; Choi plus 195 is good value
"I'm gonna take the underdog here, I'm gonna take the underdog and Choi... those odds are insane like Zalal minus 255."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Feb 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

Daniel Levi picks SeungWoo Choi as a dog-or-pass, viewing it as a close fight. He notes Choi's takedown defense (stuffed 11 vs Evloev, 8 vs Tucker) and believes his physical attributes and kickboxing make him live. He thinks the line moved too far in Zalal's favor and sees value on Choi.

"i'll roll with troy but realistically i i i just i don't think he's going to come out here and dominate i think it's going to be a very close fight that could go either way"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Youssef Zalal

Zalal is a well-rounded fighter with good cardio and a solid ground game. He should be able to mix in takedowns and grind out a decision. Choi has a tough run in the UFC and tends to fade as fights go on. Zalal's pace and pressure will be too much. I expect Zalal to win by decision, using his wrestling and volume striking.

Zalal by decision
"i'm going with yusuf's the law i think he wins this fight via decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2021 (7 days before fight)
SeungWoo Choi

The MMA Guru picks the underdog SeungWoo Choi, believing the odds should be even. He highlights Choi's Muay Thai background and reach advantage, and doubts Zalal's offensive grappling ability to expose Choi's ground game. He predicts Choi will piece Zalal up on the feet for two rounds, possibly slowing in the third, winning a 30-27 decision.

30-27 decision
"I'm going with the underdog in sung wu choi to get the upset against yusuf salao"