Seok Hyeon Ko Beats Wellington Turman at UFC Vegas 124

Seok Hyeon Ko is back in the win column. The South Korean welterweight defeated Wellington Turman by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 124 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, sweeping all three scorecards 30-27.

The result improves Ko to 14-3 as a professional and 3-1 inside the Octagon. It also came in his first appearance since his only UFC loss, making it the response he needed heading into 2027.

Three Rounds of Control

Turman opened with hard leg kicks, but Ko quickly turned the fight into a grappling contest. He used a judo throw to take Turman down early in the first round and added a second takedown before the horn.

The second round was the most competitive of the fight. Turman defended well along the fence and snapped Ko's head back with a straight right hand. Ko answered with another takedown and finished the round in top position.

Ko put the fight beyond doubt in the third. He scored a takedown inside the opening minute, advanced to full mount and kept Turman on his back for the rest of the round, landing short elbows and punches from the top.

Ko After the Fight

Speaking to reporters after his win, Ko reflected on a tough night against Turman and named veteran welterweight Neil Magny as the opponent he would like to face next.

Seok Hyeon Ko speaks to the media after his unanimous decision win over Wellington Turman at UFC Vegas 124.

A Strong Response After Oklahoma City

Ko entered the fight coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026. That bout was close, with all three judges scoring it 29-28, and it ended Ko's unbeaten start in the promotion.

Against Turman there was no such debate. Ko won every round on every card and controlled the fight on his terms from the first takedown to the final bell.

From the Contender Series to the UFC Welterweight Division

Ko made history in September 2024 when he became the first South Korean fighter to earn a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series, defeating Igor Cavalcanti by unanimous decision in the main event. He arrived with 10 professional wins, six of them by stoppage, and was known early in his career as "The Korean Tyson."

Inside the Octagon, Ko has developed into a well rounded welterweight who leans heavily on his grappling. He opened his UFC career with decision wins over Oban Elliott in Baku in June 2025 and Phil Rowe in Las Vegas in November 2025, and his performance against Turman showed that takedowns and top control are now central to his game. Ko came up through Havas MMA Gym in South Korea under coach JungWon Lee and former UFC fighter Dong Hyun Kim.