Road to UFC: Indian Prospect Chungreng Koren’s Journey Ends in Hard-Fought Semifinal Loss

SHANGHAI – The dreams of Indian bantamweight standout Chungreng Koren of securing a prestigious UFC contract have been put on hold after a grueling semifinal clash at the Road to UFC Season 5 event in Shanghai on Friday.

Koren, representing Manipur, fell to a unanimous decision loss against Japan’s Ryo Tajima. Despite showcasing remarkable grit and dominant wrestling, the judges favored Tajima’s effective striking, awarding him the victory with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28.

A Battle of Control vs. Precision

The 15-minute contest was a stylistic clash between Koren’s persistent grappling pressure and Tajima’s calculated counter-striking. Koren opened the bout with aggressive leg kicks before closing the distance, effectively pinning Tajima against the cage and securing a takedown. However, the Japanese fighter demonstrated superior scrambling ability, quickly returning to his feet and briefly seizing control of Koren’s back during a tense exchange.

As the fight moved into the second and third rounds, Koren remained the aggressor, consistently initiating clinches and controlling the tempo. By the end of the bout, the Indian fighter had logged an impressive eight minutes of control time on the mat. Yet, Tajima remained dangerous in the pocket, landing short, clinical punches and knees whenever the opportunity arose. Those moments of damage, despite Koren’s tactical control, ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the Japanese contender.

A Resilience-Defined Campaign

This defeat brings an end to a compelling “Road to UFC” narrative for the 27-year-old. Koren’s journey to the semifinals was defined by his incredible perseverance. After initially entering the tournament as a late-notice replacement in May, he overcame a challenging weight cut to pull off an upset victory against the previously undefeated Ryuho Miyaguchi, finishing the bout with a spectacular second-round rear-naked choke.

The semifinal match represented a stark contrast to his previous appearance, as Koren entered the cage with a full three-month training camp under his belt, including high-level preparation in Phuket alongside established UFC veterans.

The loss serves as a setback for Koren, who has been vocal about his personal transformation following a difficult period in his career back in 2025. Having rebuilt his discipline and physical conditioning, his performance throughout this tournament has solidified his reputation as one of India’s most promising MMA prospects.

While this Road to UFC run may have ended short of the final, Koren’s ability to compete at this elite international level confirms that his growth in the sport is far from over. For now, the Indian fighter will look to regroup, taking the lessons from Shanghai to continue his pursuit of the global stage.