8th Road FC Middleweight Champion Hwang In-soo\nKorea’s 3rd Contender Series\nUFC CEO’s 38% chance of winning against 38% Audition\nPaddy McCory\n Chairman Moon-hong who tried to give Hwang a chance\nPaddy McCory’s rematch at Road FC 75 in December\nPaddy McCory “Second game? I don’t know why.”\n It won’t be fun to try again with Hwang In-soo.”\n Hwang In-soo, who lost his chance to avenge and make up for it
The South Korean MMA champion will not take revenge on the Western European powerhouse who frustrated the global No. 1 group challenge. The head of a domestic organization tried to create an opportunity to pay off the defeat, but the opponent was different.
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 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is threatened by reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory in a middleweight fight in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is trying to push down reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory in a middleweight match in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. 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.
Road FC 75 will be held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on Dec. 7. However, as a result of MK Sports’ report on September 30, Paddy McCory refused, saying, “I already beat Hwang In-soo, but I don’t know why I should play a rematch.”
사진 확대 Reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory is preparing for the Audition Contender Series Season 96th week of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. 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
Jung Moon-hong, president of the Korea MMA General Association, introduced the answers he received from Paddy McCory similar to MK Sports’ coverage in an interview with Jung Sung-wook, a martial arts reporter, and YouTube channel “Lee Kyo-duk GOAT” released on October 21.
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.
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 he comes to Road FC, Paddy McCory, who is likely to play as a second defense opponent after winning the middleweight title challenge, does not want a rematch.
사진 확대 Hwang In-soo, the 8th Road FC middleweight champion, is attacking Lim Dong-hwan, the provisional champion, in the unified title match at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul in March 2025. Photo = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan 
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
According to MK Sports, Paddy McCory said, “I don’t think there will be an interesting match for viewers, spectators, and UFC,” adding that it is difficult to make an exciting match with Hwang In-soo.
The Contender Series aired 435 games of 870 people (including duplicates) in front of President Dana White. A total of 333 people were selected, including Ko Seok-hyun (32, HVAS). The probability of entering the UFC in the Contender Series increases to 38.3% and 76.6% if they win.
However, Paddy McCory was included in the 23.4% who failed to enter the UFC even after winning the DWCS. Chairman Dana White said: “I felt there was too much drag. I didn’t see him thinking I should bring him back,” he pointed out.
사진 확대 UFC President and CEO Dana White explains who and for what reason he is recruiting through an interview with sports channel ESPN+, which broadcasts the 96th week of the audition Contender Series season, which was hosted directly in September 2025. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory enters for the Audition Contender Series Season 96 Week 6 middleweight fight hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
Paddy McCory’s two first-hand relationships with Dana White as Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter 32 and Contender Series are a big income, but he failed to join the UFC as a result.
In DWCS, ▲ effective hit attempt 168-80 ▲ effective hit 93-37 ▲ grappling advantage time 1:45 – 3 seconds, etc., Paddy McCorrory was criticized for being boring by Chairman Dana White even though the lead was clear to Hwang In-soo regardless of standing and ground.
Dana White said: “It was a great win, but I don’t think it was just your day. “I don’t know if I train hard again, I’ll see you again someday,” he said, adding that he didn’t completely close the door to Paddy McCory to come to the UFC.
사진 확대 Road FC champion Hwang In-soo is avoiding the attack of reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory in a middleweight event in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO 
사진 확대 Reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 Semi-Final Paddy McCory is receiving a unanimous victory declaration over road FC champion Hwang In-soo after a middleweight fight in Week 9 of the Audition Contender Series hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White in September 2025. Photo = TKO
Paddy McCory should carefully prepare for the “UFC 3rd move” based on his advance to the semi-finals of TUF season 32 and his victory in week 96 of DWCS season. Perhaps it is the last attempt, so there is nothing to gain by overpowering it again, and it is worth avoiding the second game with Hwang In-soo, who is highly likely to be bored.
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 In September 2025, the attack of reality program The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 semi-final Paddy McCory and road FC champion Hwang In-soo is mixed in the middleweight match in the sixth week of the Audition Contender Series, hosted directly by UFC President and CEO Dana White. 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 taking a down from Myung Hyun-man in the Road FC 63 kickboxing game at Goyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province. 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
사진 확대 UFC reality program The Ultimate Fighter season 32 middleweight tournament Paddy McCory. Photo = TKO 
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
Contender Series Season 9 Victory
[Kang Daeho, MK Sports Reporter]