Doo Ho Choi is a bit of a legend, but if you just glance at the raw numbers, you might miss why everyone still loses their minds when he makes that walk to the Octagon. Currently, the Doo Ho Choi record stands at 16-4-1. That’s sixteen wins, four losses, and one of those "wait, what?" draws.
People see four losses and think maybe the hype was just that—hype. But they’re wrong. Most of those losses happened during a brutal stretch where life just kept throwing haymakers at him outside the cage. We’re talking military service, injuries, and a three-year layoff that would have ended most careers.
The Numbers Aren’t the Whole Story
Honestly, the stats are kinda wild. Out of those 16 wins, 13 have come by way of knockout. That is a 76% finishing rate for a guy who looks like he should be in a boy band rather than trading leather in a cage. That’s where the "Superboy" nickname comes from. He’s got this terrifying, pinpoint right hand that just shuts people’s lights out.
His UFC journey started like a house on fire. He finished Juan Puig in 18 seconds. Then he smoked Sam Sicilia and Thiago Tavares. He was 14-1 and looking like a future champion. Then, he ran into Cub Swanson.
The Hall of Fame War
You’ve probably seen the highlights. UFC 206. It wasn't just a fight; it was a scheduled car crash. Choi lost a unanimous decision, but the fight was so iconic it was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame (Fight Wing) in 2022.
- Significant strikes landed: 77 for Choi, 111 for Swanson.
- Result: Unanimous Decision loss.
- Impact: This fight changed his career trajectory, and arguably, his chin.
After that, things got rocky. He lost to Jeremy Stephens and Charles Jourdain. Both were TKO finishes. By the end of 2019, the Doo Ho Choi record had slipped to 14-4, and the critics were out in force. They said he was "all offense, no defense."
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The Great Disappearance (2019-2023)
Then he just... vanished. South Korea has mandatory military service, and Choi had to go. Between the service and some nagging injuries—including a nasty arm fracture—he didn't fight for over three years.
When he finally came back in February 2023 against Kyle Nelson, he looked sharp. He was winning that fight. But then, a controversial point deduction for a headbutt turned a win into a majority draw. It felt like the universe was just messing with him at that point.
The 2024 Resurgence: Is the Superboy Back?
2024 was the year things finally clicked again. Most people stopped checking the Doo Ho Choi record during his hiatus, but he came back and proved he’s still elite.
In July 2024, he faced Bill Algeo. He was a +170 underdog. Nobody expected him to look that good after so much time away. He caught Algeo with a vicious left hand in the second round, securing a TKO. It was his first win since 2016. Eight years! Think about that. Most fighters don't even have an eight-year career, let alone an eight-year gap between wins.
Then came UFC 310 in December 2024. He took on Nate Landwehr and looked like a completely different fighter. He wasn't just head-hunting. He actually used wrestling—landing four takedowns in one fight! To put that in perspective, he’d only landed three takedowns in his entire UFC career before that night. He finished Landwehr with elbows in the third round.
Breakdown of the Doo Ho Choi Record (as of early 2026)
Basically, if you’re looking at his professional history, here’s how the 16-4-1 shakes out:
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| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Total Wins | 16 |
| Wins by KO/TKO | 13 |
| Wins by Submission | 1 |
| Wins by Decision | 2 |
| Total Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
He is currently tied for the fifth-most knockouts in UFC Featherweight history. His striking accuracy is sitting at around 56%, which is actually top-tier for a division that moves as fast as 145 lbs.
Why he’s a Discover-feed darling
He’s 33 now, turning 34 soon. In fighter years, that’s "veteran" status, but he’s remarkably fresh because of those years off. He’s currently hovering around the Top 15-20 in the world again.
There was some talk about a fight with Daniel Santos in late 2025 that fell through, but as we head into 2026, the hype is building for a big-name matchup. Guys like Bryce Mitchell have been mentioned. That’s the kind of stylistic clash that gets people talking—the elite grappler vs. the pinpoint sniper.
What Really Happened with the Losses?
If you want to be a real expert on the Doo Ho Choi record, you have to acknowledge the context.
- The Swanson Loss: Pure heart, but zero head movement. He took too much damage.
- The Stephens Loss: He was winning the first round until he got caught. Stephens is a power puncher; it happens.
- The Jourdain Loss: Choi actually broke his arm during this fight. It’s hard to win a pro MMA fight with one limb.
Since coming back, he's fixed the defense. He’s not just standing there getting hit anymore. He’s using his feints, he’s wrestling, and he’s pacing himself. He’s a smarter fighter now, which is scary given how much power he still has in his hands.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following Choi's career now, keep these things in mind for his next few appearances:
- Don't bet against the underdog tag: He was the underdog against Algeo and Landwehr and won both. The bookies still haven't adjusted to the "new" Choi.
- Watch the takedown defense: His career TD defense is around 47%, which is his biggest weakness. If he faces a high-level wrestler, that's the red flag.
- The Round 1 Finish: He has 8 first-round finishes. If he doesn't get you early, he’s shown he can now grind out a TKO in the 2nd or 3rd, but his "danger zone" is definitely the first five minutes.
The Doo Ho Choi record is more than just wins and losses; it's a comeback story that’s still being written. He went from a "washed" prospect to a legitimate threat in one of the deepest divisions in the sport. Keep an eye on the UFC rankings in the coming months—he’s likely going to claw his way back into that Top 15.
Track his upcoming fight announcements on official UFC portals or MMA-specific databases like Sherdog or Tapology to see if he can push that win streak to three. The Superboy era might just be getting its second wind.