UFC: South Korea’s ‘Fire Fist’ Kim Ji-yeon promises fireworks against Alexa Grasso
- The 30-year-old flyweight looks for a win at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Rakic that will make the world sit up and take notice
- ‘A KO with a punch from either one of us will end it,’ says Kim – ‘so I will stay calm and make sure I stay accurate’
South Korean flyweight Kim “Fire Fist” Ji-yeon (9-2-2) returns to the fray at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Rakic this weekend looking for a win against Alexa Grasso (11-3) of Mexico that will make the world sit up and take notice.
“I want more attention internationally,” says Kim. “I feel a lot of pride in representing myself as a South Korean fighter. I am trying my best as my performance in UFC will eventually open up opportunities for future talents. I hope they will never give up and try.”
While the UFC has been strengthening its ranks of Asian women over the past few years – led by China’s strawweight champ Zhang ‘Magnum” Weili (21-1) – the 30-year-old Kim has mostly escaped attention, despite the fact she sits ranked 14th in the flyweight division.
That also comes despite a record with the organisation that sits at 3-2 and Kim told SCMP MMA this past week this trip to Las Vegas could – ideally – set her up with for a run deep into a division ruled by Kyrgyzstani Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko (19-3).
Kim’s only loss in the past three years was against the champ’s 13th-ranked sister Antonina Shevchenko (8-2), via unanimous decision in November 2018, and in the 27-year-old Grasso she’ll be up against a fighter who suits her style.