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| Photo: Courtesy of the UFC |
Yoo will face Eliza "Swift" Smith (23, U.S.) on the undercard of UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Bashehos at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the 15th (Korean time). The bout marks Yoo’s return seven months after a unanimous decision victory over Xiaolong in Shanghai last August.
The matchup pits two rising prospects who came through UFC audition routes. Yoo earned his way in by winning ROAD TO UFC Season 3 in 2024 and has since opened his UFC career with back-to-back wins over AJ Cunningham and Xiaolong. Smith entered the promotion via the 2024 Dana White’s Contender Series and also carries a two-fight UFC winning streak, having beaten Vince Morales and Kazama Toshiomi — the latter finish, a slam KO, drew worldwide attention.
Yoo described Smith as explosive with fast, powerful striking, but he sounded confident. He pointed to his own experience as the edge he’ll use: by focusing on that advantage, he believes he can win. Yoo added that while Smith won’t be an easy opponent, she’s the kind of fighter who can help him move up the rankings if he gets past her.
Smith is a Korean-American; her maternal grandmother is Korean. Her father, former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith, served with U.S. Forces Korea, and Smith spent a short time living in Korea as a child. She has a Taegeukgi tattoo on her left shoulder and a tattoo of her daughter’s name, "Naomi." She has said she’s proud of her Korean roots and wants future generations of her family to remember them.
Smith praised Yoo as a skilled, powerful, technical fighter with strong wrestling and grappling, but noted he isn’t beyond what she’s seen before. She said she rarely gets taken down or pinned on her back, while Yoo tends to overwhelm opponents from the top position — a dynamic that makes the matchup intriguing.
Yoo insisted he’s ready to secure a third straight UFC victory. He called the first two wins crucial and said earning them gave him the belief that a three-fight streak is possible. For him, the key to victory is trusting himself and his team and showcasing everything he’s prepared for inside the Octagon.
Bookmakers currently list Smith as the favorite, pricing the bout at about 65–35 against Yoo.
In the main event, No. 11-ranked Josh Emmett (41, U.S.) will take on No. 14 "El Chino" Kevin Bashehos (24, Argentina) in a UFC featherweight (65.8 kg) showdown.
Emmett (19–6) is a veteran who challenged for the interim UFC featherweight title in 2023 and is known for his power — he holds the division record for most knockdowns (12). Bashehos (17–1) is a rising contender on a three-fight UFC winning streak, having secured T/KO victories over Sting Choi Seung-woo and Giga Chikadze.
In the lead-up, Bashehos said he wants a dirty, bloody fight where both fighters try to finish each other. Emmett fired back that Bashehos may be aiming to make a name by beating him, but he warned that it won’t go Bashehos’ way.
Yoo’s fight on UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Bashehos will air live on tvN SPORTS and TVING starting at 8:30 a.m. on the 15th.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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