1. Overview
Choi Doo-ho is a prominent South Korean mixed martial artist recognized for his aggressive striking style and knockout power in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight division. His career is marked by thrilling performances, including multiple "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" awards, and a historic induction into the UFC Hall of Fame for his memorable bout against Cub Swanson. Despite facing periods of inactivity due to injuries, Choi has consistently delivered exciting fights, establishing himself as a fan favorite with a reputation for high-octane matchups.
2. Early Life and Background
Choi Doo-ho's journey into professional mixed martial arts began in his formative years, shaped by his early training in combat sports and his academic pursuits.
2.1. Birth and Family
Choi Doo-ho was born on April 10, 1991, in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, South Korea. He also has ties to Gumi City, Gyeongsangbuk-do.
2.2. Education
Choi Doo-ho pursued higher education at Gumi University, where he earned a degree in Security.
2.3. Martial Arts Training Background
Choi began his martial arts journey by actively competing in kickboxing. He made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2008 and subsequently expanded his skillset by training in Jiu-Jitsu. Throughout his career, he has been affiliated with various teams, including CMA KOREA/Gumi Mixed Martial Arts Gym, and later, Busan Team MAD. He stands at 69 in (176 cm) tall, weighs approximately 148 lb (67 kg), and has a reach of 70 in (178 cm).
3. Professional Mixed Martial Arts Career
Choi Doo-ho's professional mixed martial arts career spans several prominent organizations, starting in Japan before his notable tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3.1. Early Career (DEEP and Sengoku Raiden Championship)
Choi Doo-ho gained recognition in the mixed martial arts scene through his performances in Japanese promotions. He made his debut in DEEP in June 2010, facing Yusuke Kagiyama, where he suffered a split decision loss. After a brief period on the independent circuit, Choi returned to DEEP in September 2010, securing a first-round TKO victory over Atsuhiro Tsuboi. He then embarked on an undefeated streak in DEEP, defeating notable fighters such as Mitsuhiro Ishida, Kosuke Umeda, and Nobuhiro Obiya. Notably, during his fight against Mitsuhiro Ishida at DEEP 56 IMPACT in December 2011, Choi missed weight by 32 oz (900 g) and received two yellow cards. In February 2012, he was scheduled to face Kazunori Yokota for the DEEP Featherweight Championship but withdrew from the event shortly before the fight. His final fight for DEEP before joining the UFC was on June 15, 2013, where he defeated Japanese prospect Shoji Maruyama via second-round TKO.
While competing in DEEP, Choi also signed with Sengoku Raiden Championship (SRC). He made his SRC debut at SRC 13 in June 2010, earning a split decision victory over Ikuo Usuda. A few months later, he was slated to fight Masanori Kanehara at SRC 15, but the bout was canceled three weeks prior to the event due to an injury Choi sustained.
3.2. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Career
Following a nine-fight winning streak in his early career, Choi Doo-ho signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in November 2013 to compete in their featherweight division.
3.2.1. UFC Debut and Early Success
Choi was initially scheduled to make his UFC debut against Sam Sicilia at UFC 173 in May 2014, but he withdrew due to an injury. He ultimately made his highly anticipated debut on November 22, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 57, where he quickly defeated Juan Puig via TKO just 18 seconds into the first round. A rescheduled bout with Sam Sicilia was planned for July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71, but Choi again pulled out for undisclosed reasons. The fight with Sicilia was scheduled for a third time and took place on November 28, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 79. Choi secured a first-round knockout victory, earning his first "Performance of the Night" bonus award. He continued his impressive run on July 8, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale, where he knocked out Thiago Tavares in the first round, also earning a "Performance of the Night" bonus.
3.2.2. Notable Fights and Awards
On December 10, 2016, Choi faced then-number four ranked featherweight Cub Swanson at UFC 206. In what became a highly acclaimed bout, both fighters exchanged heavy blows and scored knockdowns, resulting in a back-and-forth war. Choi ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision. The fight was widely celebrated and nominated for "Fight of the Year" by multiple organizations, including the World MMA Awards, ESPN, and MMADNA.nl. Both Choi and Swanson were awarded "Fight of the Night" bonuses for their performance. In April 2022, during the UFC 273 broadcast, it was announced that the fight between Cub Swanson and Choi Doo-ho would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing as part of the Class of 2022, cementing its place in UFC history.
3.2.3. Later Career and Recent Bouts
After the memorable bout with Cub Swanson, Choi's career was marked by periods of inactivity and injuries. He was briefly linked to a fight with Renan Barão in April 2017 at UFC on Fox 24, but Choi declined the bout. He was then expected to face Andre Fili at UFC 214 in July 2017, but an injury forced him to withdraw, and he was replaced by Calvin Kattar.
Choi eventually returned to the octagon on January 14, 2018, to face Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round, but the bout once again earned both participants "Fight of the Night" honors. On December 21, 2019, Choi faced Charles Jourdain at UFC on ESPN+ 23 in Busan, South Korea. Despite knocking Jourdain down in the first round, Choi suffered a TKO loss in the second round. This fight also received a "Fight of the Night" award.
Further injury setbacks led to another layoff when Choi was scheduled to fight Danny Chavez on July 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 28, but he withdrew due to injury. After a three-year hiatus, Choi returned on February 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 218 to face Kyle Nelson. The fight ended in a majority draw after Choi was deducted one point in the third round due to a headbutt. Despite the official result, nine out of eleven media outlets scored the fight as a win for Choi.
On July 20, 2024, Choi faced Bill Algeo at UFC on ESPN 60. He secured a technical knockout victory in the second round, marking his first win in eight years. Choi continued his winning streak on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310, defeating Nate Landwehr by technical knockout via ground punches and elbows in the third round, delivering a flawless performance.
4. Fighting Style
Choi Doo-ho is primarily known for his aggressive and precise striking style. His background in kickboxing is evident in his powerful and accurate punches, particularly his left hook and right straight, which have led to numerous knockout victories. He possesses significant knockout power, often finishing opponents in the early rounds. While his striking is his most prominent attribute, he has also demonstrated Jiu-Jitsu skills, having secured a submission victory early in his career. His overall combat strategy often involves pressuring opponents and seeking early finishes through his formidable striking.
5. Personal Life
Choi Doo-ho married in 2017 but later divorced in 2021.
6. Broadcast Appearances
Choi Doo-ho has made several appearances on television shows, showcasing his personality outside the octagon.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | My Little Television | Guest |
| 2022-2023 | Pure Fighter | Mentor |
7. Championships and Achievements
Choi Doo-ho has accumulated several significant accolades throughout his mixed martial arts career, particularly within the UFC.
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Hall of Fame (Fight Wing, Class of 2022) vs. Cub Swanson at UFC 206
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Sam Sicilia and Thiago Tavares
- Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Cub Swanson, Jeremy Stephens, and Charles Jourdain
- Fifth most knockouts in UFC Featherweight division history (5)
- 2016 Fight of the Year vs. Cub Swanson
- World MMA Awards
- Fight of the Year (2016) vs. Cub Swanson at UFC 206
- ESPN
- Fight of the Year (2016) vs. Cub Swanson
- MMADNA.nl
- Fight of the Year (2016) vs. Cub Swanson
8. Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16-4-1 | Nate Landwehr | TKO (elbows) | UFC 310 | December 7, 2024 | 3 | 3:21 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15-4-1 | Bill Algeo | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba | July 20, 2024 | 2 | 3:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Draw | 14-4-1 | Kyle Nelson | Draw (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac | February 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Choi was deducted one point in round 3 due to a headbutt. |
| Loss | 14-4 | Charles Jourdain | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 2 | 4:32 | Busan, South Korea | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 14-3 | Jeremy Stephens | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi | January 14, 2018 | 2 | 2:36 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 14-2 | Cub Swanson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 206 | December 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14-1 | Thiago Tavares | KO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale | July 8, 2016 | 1 | 2:42 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13-1 | Sam Sicilia | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Masvidal | November 28, 2015 | 1 | 1:33 | Seoul, South Korea | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12-1 | Juan Puig | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson | November 22, 2014 | 1 | 0:18 | Austin, Texas, United States | UFC Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 11-1 | Shoji Maruyama | TKO (punches) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 in Korakuen Hall | June 15, 2013 | 2 | 2:33 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 10-1 | Tatsunao Nagakura | TKO (corner stoppage) | DEEP: 61 Impact | February 16, 2013 | 2 | 4:14 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9-1 | Kosuke Umeda | KO (punch) | DEEP: 59 Impact | August 18, 2012 | 1 | 2:49 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 8-1 | Mitsuhiro Ishida | TKO (flying knee and punches) | DEEP: 56 Impact | December 17, 2011 | 1 | 1:33 | Tokyo, Japan | Choi missed weight by 32 oz (900 g). |
| Win | 7-1 | Nobuhiro Obiya | KO (flying knee) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2011 in Tokyo | October 29, 2011 | 3 | 0:15 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6-1 | Hisaki Hiraishi | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator 23 | September 3, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Hiroshima, Japan | |
| Win | 5-1 | Atsuhiro Tsuboi | TKO (punches) | DEEP: clubDEEP Nagoya | September 5, 2010 | 1 | 4:53 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 4-1 | Yuichiro Ono | TKO (punches) | Gladiator 7 | June 27, 2010 | 1 | 0:26 | Sapporo, Japan | |
| Win | 3-1 | Ikuo Usuda | Decision (split) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 13 | June 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 2-1 | Yusuke Kagiyama | Decision (split) | DEEP: Cage Impact 2010 in Osaka | June 6, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 2-0 | Lee Jong-wha | TKO (punches) | M-1 Selection 2010: Asia Round 1 | March 5, 2010 | 1 | 3:20 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Win | 1-0 | Takashi Matsuoka | Submission (armbar) | Grachan 3 | November 29, 2009 | 1 | 1:05 | Tokyo, Japan | Lightweight debut. |