UFC"Mr. Perfect"Kyung Ho Kang Record: 19-11-0
BantamweightRecord19-11-0
Age38
DivisionBantamweight
Combat Edge Elo1651
Last fightJun 22 2024
Kyung Ho Kang has a 19-11-0 professional record and is 38 years old in the Bantamweight division, representing Busan Team MAD. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Kyung Ho Kang bio
Personal background
Kyung Ho Kang, nicknamed "Mr. Perfect," is a South Korean bantamweight and one of the most accomplished submission fighters to come out of Korea's MMA scene. Born on September 9, 1987, in Busan, he began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2006 and quickly transitioned into mixed martial arts after his coach entered him into an amateur tournament. Fighting out of Busan Team MAD, Kang built his game around a deep grappling arsenal – rooted in BJJ but also drawing on the Korean folk-wrestling style ssireum and taekwondo. Standing 5'9" with a long 73-inch reach for the division, he became known for chaining submissions together once the fight hit the mat.
Path to the UFC
Kang turned professional in 2007 and cut his teeth across the Korean and Japanese circuits, fighting for Spirit MC, Deep, Sengoku and Road FC. He won the Road FC bantamweight title during this run, establishing himself as one of the country's top prospects before signing with the UFC. His career was later interrupted by South Korea's mandatory military service, which sidelined him for roughly four years and required him to rebuild momentum on his return.
Early UFC years
Kang's UFC debut in 2013 ended in frustration: a no-contest with Alex Caceres that was overturned, followed by a decision loss to Chico Camus. He found his footing in 2014, submitting veteran Shunichi Shimizu by arm-triangle choke and edging unbeaten prospect Michinori Tanaka by split decision before his military service forced a long layoff.
Return and resurgence
Kang came back in 2018 with a first-round triangle choke of Guido Cannetti, then dropped a split decision to Ricardo Ramos. He rebuilt with a 2019 first-round submission of Teruto Ishihara and split-decision wins over Brandon Davis and Pingyuan Liu. After a 2021 decision loss to grappling specialist Rani Yahya, he beat Batgerel Danaa by decision in 2022 and submitted Cristian Quiñonez in the first round in 2023.
Recent run
The back end of his career proved tougher. Kang lost decisions to John Castañeda at UFC 295 in 2023 and to Muin Gafurov in 2024, leaving him with a 19-11 record. Even in defeat, he remained a dangerous grappler capable of ending fights from his back at any moment.
Fighting style
Kang is a submission artist first and foremost. An overwhelming 12 of his 19 wins have come by submission – rear-naked chokes, armbars, triangles and arm-triangles – giving him one of the highest finish rates among UFC bantamweights at 74 percent. His ssireum and jiu-jitsu base make him slippery in scrambles and constantly hunting for the neck or an arm. The trade-off is his striking: many of his 11 losses have come on the scorecards against opponents who could keep the fight standing and avoid his grappling, eight of them by decision. When Kang gets the fight to the ground, though, few in the division are more dangerous.
Career highlights
- Road FC bantamweight champion — won a major Asian promotion's title before reaching the UFC, marking him as a top Korean prospect.
- Elite submission rate — 12 of 19 wins by submission and a 74% finish rate, among the best in the bantamweight division.
- Signature comeback — returned from a multi-year layoff for mandatory military service to win multiple UFC bouts, including finishes of Teruto Ishihara and Cristian Quiñonez.
Career snapshot
Kyung Ho Kang career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1651Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Career-high 1674 Elo after defeating Cristian Quiñonez (2023-06-18)
Outside the active ladder after 24 months without a counted pro MMA fight. Current and peak Elo stay raw.
Similar Elo in Bantamweight
Kyung Ho Kang quick answers
What is Kyung Ho Kang's record?
Kyung Ho Kang's professional MMA record is 19-11-0.
How old is Kyung Ho Kang?
Kyung Ho Kang is 38 years old.
What weight class is Kyung Ho Kang?
Kyung Ho Kang fights at Bantamweight in UFC.
How tall is Kyung Ho Kang?
Kyung Ho Kang is 5'9" tall with a 73" reach.
How much does Kyung Ho Kang weigh?
Kyung Ho Kang competes at Bantamweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 136 lbs.
What is Kyung Ho Kang's Combat Edge Elo?
Kyung Ho Kang's Combat Edge Elo is 1651, with a peak Elo of 1674.
How strong is Kyung Ho Kang's recent opposition?
Kyung Ho Kang's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1649 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Kyung Ho Kang's last fight?
Kyung Ho Kang's latest tracked pro fight was against Muin Gafurov at UFC Fight Night on Jun 22 2024.
What is Kyung Ho Kang's recent form?
Kyung Ho Kang's recent tracked pro form is L-L-W-W-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Kyung Ho Kang usually win?
Kyung Ho Kang's 19 recorded wins include 2 knockouts, 12 submissions, and 5 decisions, with 74% ending before the final bell.
2Wins by knockout
12Wins by submission
5Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
8Loss by decision
Kyung Ho Kang stats
Record : 19 / 11 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
3.13Fighter3.23Division average
Significant striking accuracy
48%Fighter43%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
3.32Fighter3.79Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
54%Fighter55%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
1.97Fighter1.55Division average
Takedown accuracy
50%Fighter35%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
68%Fighter56%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0.77Fighter0.55Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Loading comments…