The odds of Korea’s top striker, who beat the 8th Road FC middleweight champion Hwang In-soo and Myung Hyun-man, Korea’s 3rd Contender Series UFC CEO’s 38% chance to audition Paddy McCory. Will Chairman Moon-hong give Hwang In-soo an opportunity? “Proposed to recruit Road FC from Paddy McCory,” “Proposed to re-match with Hwang In-soo in Korea,” “I got a reply from Paddy McCory.” Will Hwang In-soo avenge and take a chance to make up for it
Can the Korean MMA champion take revenge on the Western European powerhouse who frustrated the global No. 1 group challenge. The head of a domestic organization intends to create an opportunity to pay off the defeat.
Hwang In-soo (31), the 8th Road FC middleweight (84kg), lost to Paddy McCory (28, Ireland) in the 96th week of the Nevada Enterprise Contender Series season on September 17 (Korea time).
사진 확대 In September 2025, reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory and road FC champion Hwang In-soo compete in a middleweight match in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is regretful about the announcement of a defeat in the middleweight event in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series season 9 hosted by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. On the right is the reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory. Photo = TKO
UFC President and CEO Dana White (56, USA) launched the Contender Series (DWCS) in 2017 and is looking for prospects in person. Hwang In-soo, scored by three assistant judges in a unanimous 27-30 defeat, failed to pass Paddy McCory, and his UFC contract was canceled.
Chung Moon-hong (51), chairman of the Korea MMA General Association, said at a press conference on September 26 at the Road FC74 D-1 Convention Center at the Grand Hotel Seoul Convention Center in Switzerland, “I contacted Paddy McCory to try again with Hwang In-soo,” expressing his intention to push for the second game in Korea.
Paddy McCory is a semifinalist for the Ultimate Fighter 32 middleweight tournament. UFC reality program TUF Season 32 was produced in March 2024 and aired on US sports channel ESPN and OTT service ESPN+ in June.
사진 확대 UFC reality program The Ultimate Fighter season 32 middleweight tournament Paddy McCory. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Hwang In-soo (left), the 8th Road FC middleweight champion, hits provisional champion Lim Dong-hwan in the unified title match at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul in March 2025. Photo = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan
Hwang In-soo defeated provisional champion Lim Dong-hwan (30, Teamstrong MMA) 3-0 at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul in March 2025 for the first defense. If Paddy McCory comes to Road FC, he is likely to win the middleweight title challenge and play against him in the second defense match.
Jung Moon-hong, president of the Korea MMA General Association, said, “We will disclose the results later,” but explained, “The response has come.” In other words, he has already received a response to Paddy McCory’s offer to recruit Road FC.
In the Contender series, 419 games of 838 people (including duplicates) were aired to viewers in front of President Dana White. A total of 318 people were selected, including Ko Seok-hyun (32, HVAS). The probability of advancing to UFC in the Contender Series rises to 37.9% and 75.9% if they win.
사진 확대 Ko Seok-hyun is thrilled when he was notified of his UFC contract by Dana White, chairman and CEO, after winning the welterweight in the 84th week of the Nevada Enterprise Contender Series season in September 2024. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Chairman Moon Jung-hong of the Korea MMA General Association answers at a press conference on Road FC74 D-1 at the Grand Hotel Seoul Convention Center in Switzerland in September 2025. Photograph = World Martial Arts Sports Association
However, Paddy McCory was included in the 24.1% who failed to enter the UFC even after winning the DWCS, and Jung Moon-hong, president of the Korea MMA General Association, said, “Prove your true strength through the second round with Hwang In-soo.”
In the 96th week of the Contender Series season, Hwang In-soo was clearly inferior to Paddy McCory regardless of standing and ground, including ▲ effective hit attempt 80-168 ▲ effective hit 37-93 ▲ grappling advantage time of 3 seconds – 1 minute 45 seconds.
MMA Ranking System ‘Fight Matrix’ rates Paddy McCory at 61 points in middleweight in an update reflecting DWCS results. The 61 points currently correspond to the 59th and top 89.4% of UFC middleweight.
사진 확대 Reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory kicks road FC champion Hwang In-soo in a middleweight fight in the sixth week of Audition Contender Series season 9 hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is attacking reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory in a middleweight fight in week 96 of the Audition Contender Series hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
If Hwang In-soo changes his opponent’s record with Paddy McCory, the world’s lowest level of the tournament, to one win and one loss, he can demonstrate his eligibility to join the UFC. Now, in his early 30s, he is too young to give up his dream of a major championship.
Road FC 7576 will be held at Jangchung Gymnasium on December 7 and March 15, 2026, after Road FC 74 at Evergreen Gymnasium in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, on September 27, 2025. If middleweight champion Hwang In-soo plays the second defense match against challenger Paddy McCory, attention will be focused on the center of the old city center in Seoul.
사진 확대 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is exchanging fists with reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory in a middleweight fight in the sixth week of Audition Contender Series season 9 hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
Hwang In-soo Fighter Major Career
# mixed martial arts
2017~ 8 wins and 2 losses
KO/TKO 6 wins and 1 loss
Submission, 0 to 0
Road FC Champions 2021
Road FC first defense in 2025
사진 확대 Hwang In-soo (left), the 8th Road FC middleweight champion, greets Jung Moon-hong, president of the Korea MMA General Association, after becoming the unified champion and succeeding in the first defense of the title at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul in March 2025. Photograph = World Martial Arts Sports Association 
사진 확대 Hwang In-soo, the 8th Road FC middleweight champion, is preparing to participate in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
2025 DWCS Season 9 eliminated
# Kickboxing
2023 vs. Myung Hyunman TKO wins
사진 확대 Hwang In-soo is moving to the designated position according to the referee’s instructions after stealing a down from Myung Hyun-man in the Road FC 63 kickboxing game at Goyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province in February 2023. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu
Paddy McCory MMA career
2016~ 13 wins and 5 losses
7 wins and 1 loss in the professional league
One win and one loss at the demonstration
I think it’s 5 wins and 3 losses
KO/TKO 5-0 defeat
Submission, 4 wins and 2 losses
Akuma FC welterweight champion
Cage Conflict Middleweight Champion
Cage Warriors 4승 1패
TUF Season 32 Middleweight Semifinals
Contender Series Season 9 Victory
사진 확대 Reality show The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-final Paddy McCory hits road FC champion Hwang In-soo in a middleweight fight in week 96 of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
[Hong Eun-dong = Kang Dae-ho, MK Sports Reporter]