AFC welterweight champion Kim Sang-wook says he fights in Manila on Dec. 8 at AFC's first Philippines event; his opponent is set but not yet officially named.
What you need to know
- Kim Sang-wook says he will fight on Dec. 8 in Manila, AFC's first event in the Philippines.
- His opponent is decided but unannounced; Kim called him a 'fairly well-known fighter'.
- Kim beat Kotetsu Nakakado by decision at AFC 43 on Oct. 9 in his first title defense.
Reported, not confirmed
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Kim Sang-wook said on Oct. 23 that he will fight on Dec. 8 in Manila.
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Kim's opponent is already decided but has not been officially announced by AFC.
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The Dec. 8 event is AFC's first in the Philippines, with regular local events planned from next year.
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Kim retained the AFC welterweight title by decision over Kotetsu Nakakado at AFC 43 on Oct. 9.
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Kim said he would return to lightweight if that helped him reach the UFC.
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AFC created AFC Global to expand in Southeast Asia and named singer-fighter Lee Dae-won as its head.
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Kim Sang-wook is choosing activity over rest. Less than three weeks after his first welterweight title defense, the AFC champion says he is already booked to fight again, about two months after that win.
Kim made the announcement on Oct. 23 in a phone interview on the YouTube show 'Lee Kyo-deok GOAT'. He gave no name for his opponent, who is already decided but has not been announced by AFC. Kim would say only that he is a "fairly well-known fighter" (translated). AFC is expected to reveal the name soon, and it is not yet known whether the bout will be a title defense.
The trip carries weight beyond Kim's own career. The Dec. 8 card is AFC's first event in the Philippines, and the promotion plans to hold local events regularly there next year. It has set up AFC Global to speed its push into Southeast Asia, and Kim, as champion, will headline the debut push abroad.
Kim, 33, trains at Habas MMA and has a professional record of 14-4. On Oct. 9 at AFC 43 in Inje, Gangwon Province, he beat Japan's Kotetsu Nakakado by decision in the main event. In June at AFC 41 he took a unanimous decision over Kirill Khorovets, who has fought in ONE Championship and ACA.
His ambitions reach past AFC. Kim reached the lightweight semifinals in season 2 of Road to UFC and was runner-up in season 4, but has not earned a UFC contract. He said he would drop back to lightweight if that helped him get there. Before fighting he served in the Navy's UDT special warfare unit and has appeared on TV shows including 'Steel Troops' and 'Physical: 100'.
What to watch next: AFC's official announcement of the opponent and the full Manila card, and whether another convincing win keeps Kim in the conversation for a UFC deal.
Kim made the announcement on Oct. 23 in a phone interview on the YouTube show 'Lee Kyo-deok GOAT'. He gave no name for his opponent, who is already decided but has not been announced by AFC. Kim would say only that he is a "fairly well-known fighter" (translated). AFC is expected to reveal the name soon, and it is not yet known whether the bout will be a title defense.
The trip carries weight beyond Kim's own career. The Dec. 8 card is AFC's first event in the Philippines, and the promotion plans to hold local events regularly there next year. It has set up AFC Global to speed its push into Southeast Asia, and Kim, as champion, will headline the debut push abroad.
Kim, 33, trains at Habas MMA and has a professional record of 14-4. On Oct. 9 at AFC 43 in Inje, Gangwon Province, he beat Japan's Kotetsu Nakakado by decision in the main event. In June at AFC 41 he took a unanimous decision over Kirill Khorovets, who has fought in ONE Championship and ACA.
His ambitions reach past AFC. Kim reached the lightweight semifinals in season 2 of Road to UFC and was runner-up in season 4, but has not earned a UFC contract. He said he would drop back to lightweight if that helped him get there. Before fighting he served in the Navy's UDT special warfare unit and has appeared on TV shows including 'Steel Troops' and 'Physical: 100'.
What to watch next: AFC's official announcement of the opponent and the full Manila card, and whether another convincing win keeps Kim in the conversation for a UFC deal.
- Summary
- AFC welterweight champion Kim Sang-wook says he fights in Manila on Dec. 8 at AFC's first Philippines event; his opponent is set but not yet officially named.
- Key points (one per line)
- Kim Sang-wook says he will fight on Dec. 8 in Manila, AFC's first event in the Philippines.
His opponent is decided but unannounced; Kim called him a 'fairly well-known fighter'.
Kim beat Kotetsu Nakakado by decision at AFC 43 on Oct. 9 in his first title defense.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Rank5 | https://www.rank5.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=20980
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