Kicking off Saturday’s UFC Singapore card, bright and early for western fight fans, were featherweights Seung Woo Choi and Jarno Errens.
Choi had lost three straight coming into the fight, while Errens had lost a majority decision against William Gomis last time out — his promotional debut.
Errens was active to start the fight at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, throwing any number of kicks and backing Choi up. A shin-on-shin collision resulted, but Errens appeared undeterred, continuing his kick-heavy attack. Choi answered with his own calf kick; about ninety seconds in, Errens grazed the cup of Choi, but they fought on. A right hand by Choi turned out to be his biggest strike in the opening half; Errens was hurt and clinched up. Choi reversed on the fence, but couldn’t get the fight down.
Coming off the fence, Errens came out swinging! He backed Choi up, connecting several times. Choi reversed momentum, going on the attack; at the end of the round, Errens shot a takedown but was too far out, leaving it to be easily stuffed by Choi, who was bleeding from one leg.
Early in round two, Errens dropped his opponent with an uppercut, getting on top with over three and a half minutes still on the clock. Errens worked from half-guard and looked to pass into mount. Choi however would scramble up, only for Errens to drag him back down. When they came back up in another scramble, however, it was Choi getting the upper hand, landing on top with Errens closing his guard. Choi worked in some elbows, and a right hand, but was running out of time to win back the round.
Round three opened with more creative kicks from Errens, similar to his start in the first. Choi went to the body with his kicks, and found some success with his counters. A head kick by Choi was blocked. A particularly nasty leg kick by Choi — or maybe just the accumulation of several throughout the fight — then sent Errens down. Choi got on top, arguably a tactical error given his opponent had been hobbled, and was ripe for a finish.
Choi instead wound up taking the back, eventually running out of time while hunting a rear-naked choke. A strong finish, however— and the judges had it in the South Korean’s favor.
Back in the win column with a dominant performance for @Sting_Choi 👏👏👏#UFCSingapore | Prelims continue LIVE on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/fXkPeWEZx5
— UFC (@ufc) August 26, 2023
Official Result: Seung Woo Choi def. Jarno Errens by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
