Seung Woo Choi
South Korean mixed martial arts fighter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Choi Seung-woo (Korean: 최승우; born November 3, 1992), often anglicized Seung Woo Choi, is a South Korean mixed martial artist who competed in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Choi was the former Top Fighting Championship Featherweight Champion (two times) and a 2010 Bronze medalist at the IFMA World Muaythai Championships.
| Seung Woo Choi | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1992 Kangnung, South Korea[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Other names | Sting | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 146 lb (66 kg; 10 st 6 lb) | ||||||||||||||
| Division | Featherweight | ||||||||||||||
| Reach | 74.5 in (189 cm)[3][1] | ||||||||||||||
| Style | Muay Thai | ||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Seoul, South Korea | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Mob Training Center | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2015–present | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 19 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| University | Yong In University | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Background
Choi began practicing martial arts at the age of eight, eventually representing South Korea in the Muay Thai World Championships.[4] He graduated from Yong In University with a bachelor's degree.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Choi started his professional MMA career in 2015 and fought under various promoters primarily in Asia. He was the former featherweight Top Fighting Championship champion (x2) and [5][6] he was signed by the UFC after he won the Top FC featherweight championship for a second time with an amassed record of 7–1.[7]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Choi made his promotional debut on April 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik as a short-notice replacement[6] against Movsar Evloev.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[9]
Choi faced Gavin Tucker on July 27, 2019, at UFC 240.[10] He lost the fight via submission in the third round.[11]
Choi next faced Suman Mokhtarian on December 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie.[12] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]
Choi was expected to face Youssef Zalal on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179,[14] but was pulled from the bout due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Ilia Topuria.[15]
Choi was scheduled to meet Steven Peterson on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 184.[16] In turn, Peterson pulled out on January 15 due to an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Collin Anglin.[17] Anglin was pulled from the event for an undisclosed reason, and Youssef Zalal replaced him.[18] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[19]
Choi faced Julian Erosa on June 19, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 25.[20] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[21] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[22]
Choi faced Alex Caceres on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196.[23] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in round two.[24]
Choi is scheduled to face Tucker Lutz on March 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205.[25] However, Choi was forced to withdraw from the event due to an undisclosed injury.[26]
Choi faced Joshua Culibao on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275.[27] He lost the bout via split decision.[28]
Choi faced Michael Trizano on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281.[29] Trizano weighed 147.6 pounds at the weigh-ins, one and six-tenths of a pound over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight with Trizano fined 20% of his purse, which went to Choi.[30] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[31]
Choi faced Jarno Errens on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225.[32] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[33]
Choi was scheduled to face Morgan Charrière on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240.[34] However, Choi withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Jose Mariscal.[35]
Choi faced Steve Garcia on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60.[36] He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[37]
Choi faced promotional newcomer Kevin Vallejos on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254.[38] He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[39]
On April 9, 2025, it was reported that Choi was removed from the UFC roster.[40]
Personal life
Choi lost his mother in early 2025.[41]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Julian Erosa[22]
- Top Fighting Championship
Muay Thai
Mixed martial arts record
| 19 matches | 11 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 0 | 2 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 11–8 | Kevin Vallejos | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 | March 15, 2025 | 1 | 3:09 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–7 | Steve Garcia | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba | July 20, 2024 | 1 | 1:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–6 | Jarno Errens | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 10–6 | Michael Trizano | KO (punches) | UFC 281 | November 12, 2022 | 1 | 4:51 | New York City, New York, United States | Catchweight (147.6 lb) bout; Trizano missed weight. |
| Loss | 10–5 | Joshua Culibao | Decision (split) | UFC 275 | June 11, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Alex Caceres | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori | October 23, 2021 | 2 | 3:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Choi was deducted one point in round 1 due to an illegal knee. |
| Win | 10–3 | Julian Erosa | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige | June 19, 2021 | 1 | 1:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–3 | Youssef Zalal | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov | February 6, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Suman Mokhtarian | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Busan, South Korea | Choi was deducted a point in round 1 due to repeatedly grabbing the fence. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Gavin Tucker | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | 3 | 3:17 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Tucker was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal knee. |
| Loss | 7–2 | Movsar Evloev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik | April 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Evloev was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal knee. |
| Win | 7–1 | Kim Jae-woong | KO (punch) | Top FC 16 | December 9, 2017 | 2 | 2:47 | Seoul, South Korea | Won the Top FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1 | Kil Young-bok | TKO (punches) | Top FC 15 | July 22, 2017 | 1 | 1:33 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Loss | 5–1 | Kim Jae-woong | TKO (punches) | Top FC 14 | March 6, 2017 | 1 | 0:36 | Seoul, South Korea | Lost the Top FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Lee Min-gu | KO (punch) | Top FC 12 | September 11, 2016 | 4 | 2:38 | Seoul, South Korea | Won the Top FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Rocky Lee | Decision (unanimous) | Art of War 17 | April 30, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Beijing, China | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Oh Tae-seok | KO (knee) | Top FC 10 | March 19, 2016 | 1 | 1:55 | Seoul, South Korea | Catchweight (154 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Nurzhan Tutkaev | Decision (unanimous) | Kunlun Fight: Cage Fight Series 4 | November 4, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Astana, Kazakhstan | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Yoon Tae-seung | TKO (cut) | Top FC 8 | August 15, 2015 | 1 | 1:45 | Seoul, South Korea | Featherweight debut. |