UFC Fight Night: Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Ko Seok-hyeon Preview & Prediction
Two promising Contender Series graduates collide on the Oklahoma City prelims as welterweights Seok Hyeon Ko and Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani both look to build on wins after Phil Rowe.
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Ko Seok-hyeon facts
What time are Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani and Ko Seok-hyeon expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman? Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 281
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman main card
Dricus du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman (Middleweight)
Jared Cannonier vs Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)
Chase Hooper vs Mitch Ramirez (Lightweight)
Tommy McMillen vs Alberto Montes (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman prelims
Tabatha Ricci vs Fatima Kline (Women's Strawweight)
Austin Bashi vs Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight)
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Ko Seok-hyeon (Welterweight)
Levi Rodrigues Jr. vs Felipe Franco (Light Heavyweight)
Alden Coria vs Stewart Nicoll (Flyweight)
RJ Harris vs Alvin Hines (Heavyweight)
Anna Melisano vs Dione Barbosa (Women's Flyweight)
Marc-Andre Barriault vs TBC (Middleweight)
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani: “Mufasa” brings switch-stance striking and a slick submission game
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (10-2) made a winning walk to the octagon with a split decision win over Phil Rowe, a bout where he blended a double-leg and Darce threat with the sharper striking. The Californian earned his contract by starching Jack Congdon on the Contender Series with a first-round head kick. He’s a switch fighter with a tight guard who dips to fire the jab to the body and rips calf kicks on the outside. He scrambles well and stays dangerous off his back, throwing up triangles and hunting guillotines on careless takedown entries.
Ko Seok-hyeon: “The Korean Tyson” keeps the wrestling blueprint rolling
Seok Hyeon Ko (12-2) has quietly been one of the more efficient newcomers at welterweight. A sambo world champion out of South Korea, the 32-year-old has smothered both his UFC opponents, a wrestling clinic against Oban Elliott on debut, then a shutout of Phil Rowe. On the feet he works from an upright southpaw karate stance, sharp and fast with his straights, bouncing in and out at range while reading distance with his hands down. His takedown entries are quick and well disguised, his cardio holds up, and he mixes to the body nicely, however both his career losses have come by knockout.
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Ko Seok-hyeon prediction
Both men handled Phil Rowe, but Ko did it way more dominantly, grinding out a near shutout with his wrestling while Lebosnoyani edged a split. On paper, Ko looks a touch better just about everywhere, the cleaner wrestling, the more consistent output, the better cardio, and the bookies have him as a moderate favourite, which feels about right.
But this is a specific puzzle that could hand the underdog a real path. Ko likes to read range with his hands down, slipping and pulling straight back, and while his defence is slick, a lot of shots have landed awfully close against him. Against a fighter with Lebosnoyani’s fast lead head kicks, the exact weapon that folded Jack Congdon, that habit is playing with fire. You only need one to land clean, and Ko’s chin has already betrayed him twice in the past.
Lebosnoyani whips that head kick up at the end of his combinations, right as an opponent thinks the exchange is over, and that’s precisely where I can see him catching Ko on the exit. This is more likely to turn into a tit for tat point match, where I can see Ko controlling and cruising through it, but I can’t shake the image of a head kick landing flush. The safer pick is Ko by decision, but there is definitely value in the Lebosnoyani KO/TKO.
Prediction: Seok Hyeon Ko to win by decision
