UFC flyweight Hyun Sung Park returned from a 17-month layoff in style to help kick off UFC Vegas 106.
UFC Vegas 106 featured an intriguing headliner between welterweight contenders Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales. But hours before the main event, a rising flyweight star turned heads on the UFC Vegas 106 prelims.
Former Road to UFC standout Hyun Sung Park returned from a lengthy hiatus to take on Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Carlos Hernandez at UFC Vegas 106 at the Apex. It was a matchup highlighted by many fans and pundits on the UFC Vegas 106 undercard featuring two budding stars in the 125 lb division.
The concept of ‘cage rust’ for fighters returning from lengthy absences has been debated for years. If it truly does exist, Park didn’t show any signs of it as he earned arguably the biggest win of his career.
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Hyun Sung Park is the UFC’s next flyweight star
Park and Hernandez wasted little time getting after it in the Octagon, with Hernandez landing some heavy leg kicks just seconds into the fight. But Park seemed undeterred by the early blows, eventually securing a massive takedown and quickly getting Hernandez’s back.
While Hernandez attempted to transition out of a dangerous position, Park wouldn’t allow him to move as he strangled Hernandez with a brutal body lock. With Hernandez’s back turned to Park, the undefeated flyweight tapped Hernandez with a rear-naked choke to secure the first-round victory.
Park’s finish extended his ongoing stoppage win streak to nine victories as he remains unbeaten in his professional and UFC tenure. After securing a contract via Road to UFC in Oct. 2022, Park has run through each of his three UFC opponents.
Park’s latest victory comes after a brutal liver shot finished Shannon Ross at a Dec. 2023 UFC Fight Night event. But while Park’s striking is dangerous, his grappling is considered a matchup nightmare for many of the division’s contenders.
At a time when the UFC flyweight division continues to blossom, Park’s emergence adds an intriguing name to the mix at 125 lbs. By year’s end, Park could very well be in the Top 15 and knocking on the door of a potential flyweight title shot.
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UFC’s biggest signing of the year reportedly helps save UFC 316 card
As UFC Vegas 106 played out on Saturday, the promotion got some good news in the form of its newest signing; former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix. After departing the PFL earlier this year, Mix reportedly signed with the UFC and will make his promotional debut at UFC 316 next month.
Mix could potentially serve as the backup to the UFC 316 headliner between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley if anything happens with the card’s main event fight. But the UFC debutant Mix will face Mario Bautista in a short notice bout after Marlon Vera withdrew due to an injury.
UFC 316 also features a women’s bantamweight title co-main event between Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison. It’s the beginning of Pena’s second title stint after winning the then-vacant belt over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in October.
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