UFC Separates Athlete Prior to Octagon Debut in Mixed Martial Arts Event
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Reminds me of that line from Jay-Z's banger Encore: "grand opening, grand closing." That ain't exactly what Dana White and the UFC crew said about So Yul Kim's future, but it sure as hell crossed my mind.
Kim, a 27-year-old women's strawweight on the UFC roster, never got a whiff of Octagon action, despite getting signed in Sept 2023. Her UFC debut against Eduarda Moura was scrapped, and she spent more than a year not getting a fight. But UFC Roster Watch reported she was booted from the promotion on March 17 without ever seeing the Octagon.
Rumor has it Kim had contract issues with ONE that prevented her from stepping into the UFC ring. Tapology, a handy MMA resource, reveals Kim's got a fight coming up on March 22 against South Korean promotion Angel's Fighting Championship. Her opponent, Qingqing Yang, ain't exactly fearsome with a record of 2-5.
But Kim's young, and she can still make a comeback. Here's a peek at the current rankings scene for the UFC's women's strawweight division, with Weili Zhang reigning as champ.
Women's Strawweight Rankings
Champion: Zhang Weili
- Yan Xiaonan
- Tatiana Suarez
- Virna Jandiroba
- Jessica Andrade
- Amanda Lemos
- Mackenzie Dern
- Amanda Ribas
- Iasmin Lucindo
- Marina Rodriguez
- Tabatha Ricci
- Loopy Godinez
- Gillian Robertson
- Angela Hill
- Luana Pinheiro
- Tecia Pennington
Iasmin Lucindo seemed like the new up-and-comer, but she got schooled by Amanda Lemos at UFC 313 on Mar 8. Weili might step up to flyweight to face the winner of the upcoming championship fight between Shevchenko and Fiorot on May 10 at UFC 315 in Montreal.
If Weili vacates the division, the April 12 showdown between Yan Xiaonan (#1) and Virna Jandiroba (#3) could be a title eliminator. That'd open up some fresh matchups in the division. Maybe Kim can make her way back into the mix.
Moving On: UFC London
The UFC's back in London on Apr 12 for a Fight Night card that's just short of a pay-per-view. Ex-UFC champ Leon Edwards is back in the Octagon after losing his title to Belal Muhammad last July. He'll take on Sean Brady in the main event. Here's the full card:
Main Card (Starting at 3:00 PM ET)
- Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland
- Women's Strawweight Bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexa Thainara
- Lightweight Bout: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
- Featherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere
Preliminary Card (Starting at 12 PM ET)
- Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla
- Flyweight Bout: Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos
- Heavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin
- Middleweight Bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andre Pulyaev
- Women's Strawweight Bout: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar
- Bantamweight Bout: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran
- Lightweight Bout: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes
- So Yul Kim, who was set to make her UFC debut but was subsequently released in March 2024, might find an opportunity to return to the UFC's women's strawweight division if the current rankings prove competitive.
- In the women's strawweight division, So Yul Kim, a former UFC roster member who withdrew after contract issues with ONE, faces Qingqing Yang on March 22 in the Angel's Fighting Championship, a South Korean promotion.
- Despite being booted from the UFC in 2024, So Yul Kim, a 27-year-old strawweight, could potentially compete in the UFC again, especially if there are changes in the division's rankings.
