Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman prediction: Seokhyeon Ko hunts top position against a long-idle Wellington Turman
Ko's takedown-and-control style faces a Brazilian who hasn't fought since 2023 but still carries a dangerous guard.
| Seokhyeon Ko | -707.5 (84% implied) |
|---|---|
| Wellington Turman | +500 (16% implied) |
- Ko likely chains takedowns and rides top position for three rounds, while Turman tries to scramble or threaten from his back.
- Watch Turman's guard once Ko lands on top: his last UFC win came by armbar from bottom guard.
- Ko sits at -707.5 (84.0% no-vig), out from -600; Turman's 43% takedown defense bears on that price more than any other number.
Ko's game is the mat
Seokhyeon Ko retired the nickname "The Korean Tyson" and now walks out as "Technical," which finally matches what he does. The brawler label never fit. In the UFC he has been a takedown-and-control welterweight, averaging 3.33 takedowns per 15 minutes and spending 56% of his fight time in control.
The two wins show the template. He held Phil Rowe down for 790 seconds and Oban Elliott for 615, and both ended in clean unanimous decisions. Those numbers come from only three UFC fights, so the sample is thin, but the pattern is consistent.
That game runs straight into Wellington Turman's weakest spot. Turman stops just 43% of takedown attempts in the UFC, and he absorbs 4.17 significant strikes a minute. Ko absorbs 1.47 a minute, so if the exchanges stay short, the pressure points one way.
The blueprint that beat Ko
Ko's only UFC loss gives Turman a model to follow. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, a switch-stance grappler, stuffed all four of Ko's takedown attempts in July and held him to 107 seconds of control. All three judges scored it 28-29.
Without top position, Ko became an ordinary striker who lands 3.0 significant strikes a minute. He has no UFC knockdowns. Turman can't be sure of copying that defense, though. He lands only 21% of his own takedown attempts, so turning the tables on the wrestling front is unlikely.
Turman's guard is the danger
Turman is 18-8 as a pro, with 8 wins and 1 loss by submission. His best UFC moment came from his back: an armbar from bottom guard that finished Misha Cirkunov in Round 2. A wrestler who settles into Turman's guard has to respect that.
Ko has not shown much of a submission game himself. None of his 13 pro wins came by submission. His risk on top is a scramble, not a counter-finish, but one mistake against Turman's guard is the clearest path to an upset.
Rust, a skid and a roster spot
Turman last fought in December 2023, losing to Jared Gooden by rear-naked choke in Round 2. That marks 1071 days out of the cage by fight night. A planned return in Abu Dhabi this summer collapsed when Islam Dulatov pulled out with an illness the day before the fight.
He arrives 3-6 in the UFC on a three-fight losing streak, and his roster spot is on the line. Ko, 2-1 in the UFC, returns on 112 days' rest and wants to get moving again after the July loss.
Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman line movement and odds
| Book | Ko ML | Turman ML | Ko spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +525 | -750 | — | — |
| BetRivers | +475 | -715 | — | — |
| DraftKings | +525 | -750 | — | — |
| FanDuel | +500 | -850 | — | — |
| Hard Rock Bet | +475 | -700 | — | — |
| Caesars | +550 | -800 | — | — |
Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman: tale of the tape
| Seokhyeon Ko | Wellington Turman | |
|---|---|---|
| Pro record | 13-3-0 | 18-8-0 |
| UFC record | 2-1 | 3-6 |
| Opponents' combined UFC record | 8-3 (72.7%) | 38-31-1 (55.1%) |
| Age | 33 | 30 |
| Height | 5' 10" | 6' 0" |
| Reach | 71" | 72" |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Sig. strikes landed / min | 3.00 | 3.23 |
| Sig. strikes absorbed / min | 1.47 | 4.17 |
| Striking accuracy | 50% | 51% |
| Striking defense | 65% | 45% |
| Takedowns / 15 min | 3.33 | 1.55 |
| Takedown defense | 50% | 43% |
| Submission attempts / 15 min | 0.33 | 0.78 |
The fighters
- Seokhyeon Ko (Seokhyeon Ko): Ko spends 56% of his UFC fight time in control and averages 3.33 takedowns per 15 minutes.
- Wellington Turman (Wellington Turman): Turman has 8 pro wins by submission and 1 loss that way, but stops only 43% of UFC takedown attempts.
Numbers that matter
| Ko control share | 56% | Ko spends most of his UFC fight time controlling opponents, the core of both his wins. |
|---|---|---|
| Turman takedown defense | 43% | Turman stops fewer than half of takedown attempts, the opening Ko's style is built to exploit. |
| Turman pro submission record | 8-1 | His guard, including an armbar from bottom against Cirkunov, is his best route to an upset. |
| Turman days since last fight | 1071 | Turman hasn't competed since December 2023 after a summer return fell through. |
| Ko moneyline | -707.5 | The price has moved toward Ko since our feed first saw it at -600. |
Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman: quick answers
Who is favored in Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman?
Seokhyeon Ko is the favorite at -707.5; Wellington Turman is +500.
When is Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman?
UFC Fight Night: Cortes Acosta vs. Walker, on the main card. That part of the card starts Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
What weight class is Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman?
Welterweight, scheduled for 3 rounds.
Where is Seokhyeon Ko vs Wellington Turman?
Meta APEX, Las Vegas, NV, USA.