‘Korean Super Boy’ Choi Doo-ho’s bid to re-enter the UFC featherweight rankings came to a sudden and disappointing end on Sunday as he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Brazilian legend Patricio Pitbull at UFC 331.
The highly anticipated showdown, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, saw 35-year-old Choi (17-1-4) face off against the 39-year-old Pitbull (37-9) in the event’s third main card fight. For Choi, the stakes could not have been higher; a victory would have marked his return to the UFC’s top 15 rankings for the first time in over eight years. Had he been successful, he would have set a record for the longest hiatus between ranking appearances in the current UFC roster.
The matchup was personally requested by Choi following his victory over Daniel Toss last May. Confident in his preparation and form, which had seen him remain unbeaten since his 2023 return to the Octagon, Choi had boldly predicted that the fight would not go the distance. “I believe Pitbull won’t last until a decision,” Choi stated during the lead-up to the bout, noting his own impressive finish rate of 88%.
However, the fight quickly spiraled away from the Korean standout. After a cautious start characterized by light footwork and probing jabs, the momentum shifted when Pitbull connected with a sharp one-two combination, opening a cut near Choi’s right eye. Despite the blood, Choi attempted to maintain his composure and find space for a counter-attack. A desperate attempt to land an uppercut left him vulnerable, and Pitbull capitalized immediately. The Brazilian veteran landed a clean, devastating right straight to the chin, forcing a clinching desperation from the Korean fighter. Pitbull swarmed his opponent, delivering a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes that left the referee no choice but to wave off the contest.
The loss serves as a major setback for Choi, who had hoped to reignite his career and solidify his legacy alongside former stars like Jung Chan-sung. For Pitbull, the victory serves as a reminder of his enduring pedigree as a nine-time defending champion from his illustrious tenure at Bellator.
The event was a difficult night for the Korean contingent overall, as ‘Zombie Junior’ Yoo Ju-sang also fell in his undercard bout, dropping a split decision to American Michael Aswell Jr.
Choi, who had approached this fight with the intensity of representing a national team, now faces a difficult road ahead as he looks to process this defeat and determine his next steps in a fiercely competitive featherweight division.
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