Manipuri MMA fighter Chungreng Koren submits Japan's Ryuho Miyaguchi to reach the Road to UFC Season 5 semifinals.
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DIMAPUR — Manipuri fighter Chungreng Koren moved a step closer to securing a UFC contract after defeating Japan’s previously unbeaten Ryuho Miyaguchi in the bantamweight quarterfinals of Road to UFC Season 5 in Macau on Thursday.
Koren earned the victory via rear-naked choke at the 4:00 mark of the second round following a relentless performance that gradually overwhelmed the Japanese contender.
The contest began competitively, with Miyaguchi — who entered the fight with an undefeated 7-0 record — finding success early in the second round through sharp straight right hands. Koren, however, turned the tide by dropping Miyaguchi with a powerful left hand before taking control on the ground with sustained pressure and strikes. Sensing the finish, the Manipuri fighter transitioned to Miyaguchi’s back and secured the submission late in the round.
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The win marks a major moment in Koren’s career, especially after a challenging period in 2025. Known as the “Indian Rhino", Koren had suffered a setback earlier this year when he lost his Matrix Fight Night bantamweight title to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant — a defeat that pushed him into a difficult phase personally and professionally.
Prior to this tournament, Koren had also missed out on a Road to UFC opportunity because of contractual issues, despite being close to entering the competition.
This latest opportunity came unexpectedly as well. Initially named only as a backup fighter in the bantamweight bracket, Koren was called into the tournament at short notice after South Korea’s Shin You-min withdrew with a knee injury.
Despite limited preparation time, Koren delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament’s opening round. His only setback came during Wednesday’s weigh-ins, where he missed the bantamweight limit.
With the quarterfinal victory, Koren advances to the semifinals of Road to UFC Season 5 and is expected to face the winner of the bout between Ryo Tajima and Ti Haitao.
On the other side of the bracket, Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant also progressed after defeating Kimbert Alintozon via TKO in the second round.
The results keep alive the possibility of a highly anticipated rematch between Dhant and Koren later in the tournament, with a UFC contract potentially on the line.