Seok Hyeon Ko vs. Wellington Turman
UFC Fight Night · November 7, 2026 · Meta Apex · Prelims 3:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Grappling craft vs. ring rust
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Welterweight · Prelims
The read
Ko's recent form and sambo-based grappling give him a real edge against a Turman who hasn't fought in nearly three years.
Turman's own submission game is live if he can find his footing early, but a three-fight skid and an extended layoff are difficult to overcome against an in-form opponent.
Ko is the pick, with Turman's jiu-jitsu his best route back.
The matchup
This is a crossroads fight between a fighter fresh off his first UFC loss and one making his first walk in almost three years.
Ko is a former combat sambo world champion who won two of his first three UFC fights before dropping a razor-thin decision to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani.
Turman is a BJJ specialist who hasn't competed since December 2023 and has dropped three straight, now dropping back down to welterweight after mostly fighting at middleweight.
Tale of the tape
| 13-3 | Record | 18-8 |
| 33 | Age | 30 |
| 5'10" | Height | 6'0" |
| 71" | Reach | 72" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| South Korea | Country | Brazil |
| — | Team | Teixeira MMA |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Seok Hyeon Ko 13-3
“Technical”
Seok Hyeon Ko, nicknamed 'Technical,' is a 33-year-old South Korean welterweight and a combat sambo world champion, the first Korean to win gold at the FIAS World Championships. He won his first two UFC fights, decisions over Oban Elliott and Phil Rowe, before dropping a close decision to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani in July 2026 for his first loss inside the Octagon. He now looks to bounce back against long-idle Brazilian Wellington Turman.
- LJean-Paul Lebosnoyani · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman · July 18, 2026
- WPhil Rowe · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama · November 1, 2025
- WOban Elliott · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. · June 21, 2025
Wellington Turman 18-8
“The Prodigy”
Wellington 'The Prodigy' Turman is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist whose UFC run has been rocky, with eight career submission wins but three straight losses and no fight since December 2023, when a scheduled return against Islam Dulatov in Abu Dhabi fell through. He is now slotted at welterweight after competing mostly at middleweight, and returns after nearly three years away to face South Korean contender Seok Hyeon Ko.
- LJared Gooden · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC on ESPN 52 · December 2, 2023
- LRandy Brown · Decision (unanimous)UFC on ABC 5 · June 24, 2023
- LAndre Petroski · Decision (unanimous)UFC 281 · November 12, 2022