South Korea’s leading lightweight mixed martial artist Jun Yong Park, 32, will attempt to become the first South Korean to win five consecutive UFC fights.
Park will face Brazilian jiu-jitsu powerhouse Andre Muniz (33-Brazil) at “UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutierrez” on March 10 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Park’s recent four-fight winning streak equaled the longest by a South Korean fighter, held by Dong Hyun “Stungun” Kim (42), and a win would set a new record.
He will also become the first South Korean fighter to break into the middleweight rankings (#15).
Munis is a powerhouse who was ranked 14th in the middleweight division until last month, when he slipped out of the top 15.
Local bookies are giving Park a 70% chance of winning.
The expectation is that Park will use his honed grappling skills and concise boxing to gain the upper hand.
Muniz is a jiu-jitsu master, but his relative lack of takedown ability will make it difficult for him to take Park to the ground.
His recent form hasn’t been great either, with back-to-back losses to Brandon Allen (27-USA) and Paul Craig (36-Scotland).
Park traveled to Las Vegas on Sunday and is determined to be in top form after jet lag and local training.
Park has a career mixed martial arts record of 17-5, including a 7-2 record in the UFC.
Road to UFC Season 1 flyweight champion Hyun Sung Park, 28, the “back door” to the UFC for Asian fighters, will make his UFC debut at the event.
Park, who defeated Choi Seung Kook (26), a protégé of “Korean Zombie” Chung, in the flyweight finals of Road to UFC Season 1 in February, is an “exceptional prospect” with an 8-0 record in mixed martial arts.
His opponent is Shannon Ross (34-Australia), who recently lost her second straight UFC fight. 먹튀검증
