Won Sik Park

Overview

Won Sik Park (박원식) is a veteran South Korean mixed martial artist known as the “Korean Gangster.”

Also known earlier in his career as “Parky,” Park has competed professionally since 2004 and represents an important bridge between the earlier generation of Korean fighters who established themselves primarily in Japan and the modern Korean promotional scene.

Park spent much of his career competing around lightweight, although he has fought across several weight classes and returned to competition as a welterweight with Black Combat. His résumé includes appearances in DREAM, Sengoku, DEEP, ROAD FC, HEAT, Combate Americas and Black Combat, giving him an unusually broad range of international experience.

His career record also reflects his aggressive approach. Of Park’s 16 professional victories, nine have come by knockout or TKO and four by submission, meaning 81 percent of his wins have ended inside the distance.

After several years away from professional MMA following his 2020 HEAT appearance, Park returned with Black Combat in 2024. He immediately demonstrated that his finishing power remained intact, knocking out Chang Geun Jeon in the opening round before challenging Jun Seo Choi for the vacant Black Combat welterweight championship in 2025.

Early Life & Background

Public information regarding Won Sik Park’s childhood and introduction to martial arts is limited, but his professional career began remarkably early.

Won Sik Park made his recorded professional MMA debut in December 2004 and developed during a period when opportunities for Korean mixed martial artists at home were considerably more limited than they are today. Much of his early career consequently took place in Japan, where he competed for organizations including MARS, DEEP, DREAM and Sengoku.

By 2010, Won Sik Park was already regarded as one of South Korea’s leading lightweight prospects. His development was unusual because it overlapped with his compulsory military service. Park began his two-year service in March 2010 but continued competing when his schedule permitted, even using annual leave to travel to Japan for his Sengoku fight against Maximo Blanco.

That period provides important context for Park’s career. He developed before Korea possessed the depth of domestic MMA infrastructure available to today’s prospects, requiring him to repeatedly travel abroad and face established international competition.

Fighting Style

Aggressive Striker

Won Sik Park’s defining characteristic has historically been his willingness to engage.

He is an offensive-minded fighter who applies pressure, closes distance and looks for opportunities to hurt opponents with his hands. His nine knockout or TKO victories account for more than half of his professional wins.

Park’s left hook has remained particularly dangerous late into his career. In his 2024 return against Chang Geun Jeon, Park produced a first-round knockout with the left hook despite having not competed professionally since January 2020.

Finishing Instincts

Won Sik Park is more than simply a knockout puncher.

Four of his victories have come by submission, including wins by armbar and rear-naked choke. His record demonstrates a fighter who has historically been willing to attack aggressively regardless of where the fight moves.

That combination explains his unusually high finishing percentage: only three of his 16 professional victories have required a decision.

Experience and Veteran Composure

At this stage of his career, Won Sik Park’s greatest weapon may be experience.

He has competed against opponents with dramatically different styles across Korea, Japan, Mexico and the United States, and has fought under numerous promotions and competitive environments.

His longevity also means that the modern version of Park is different from the young prospect who fought in DREAM and Sengoku. While explosiveness and aggression remain important parts of his game, experience allows him to recognize openings and commit quickly when an opponent makes a mistake.

Professional Career

Won Sik Park began competing professionally in 2004 and developed primarily through the Japanese regional scene. After an early loss to Fernando Vieira, he assembled an impressive run that included victories over Young Gi Lee, William Animal, Hairan Nishimura, Furdjel De Windt, Naoki Matsushita, Atsuhiro Tsuboi and Yuichi Ikari.

His performances eventually earned him a place in DREAM, then one of Asia’s premier MMA organizations. Park faced experienced Japanese lightweight Kuniyoshi Hironaka at DREAM 12 in October 2009, suffering a stoppage following an eye injury.

Won Sik Park continued competing in Japan and subsequently faced Maximo Blanco at Sengoku: Soul of Fight in December 2010. Although Park lost by unanimous decision, the matchup represented one of the most significant international opportunities of his early career.

Following additional appearances in DEEP, Park eventually became part of the growing Korean MMA scene through ROAD FC. He faced Shinji Sasaki at ROAD FC 29 before stopping Ukyo Abe with ground-and-pound at ROAD FC 33 in 2016.

Won Sik Park then took his career to the Americas. He scored a first-round stoppage of Luis Medrano for Combate Americas in Mexico in 2018 before facing Erick Gonzalez in the United States the following year.

In January 2020, Won Sik Park defeated Shigeaki Kusayanagi by unanimous decision in a HEAT lightweight championship bout, adding another significant accomplishment to his veteran résumé.

More than four years later, Park made an unexpected return to professional MMA with Black Combat. He knocked out Chang Geun Jeon in the first round at Black Combat Rise 05 in October 2024. That performance ultimately led to an opportunity to fight Jun Seo Choi for the vacant Black Combat Welterweight Championship at Black Combat 14 in May 2025, where Park was stopped in the opening round.

Career Highlights

• Professional MMA career spanning more than 20 years, beginning in 2004.
• Professional record of 16-9-1 with 1 NC.
• 13 of 16 victories by stoppage, including nine KO/TKO wins and four submissions.
• Competed for major Asian organizations including DREAM, Sengoku, DEEP, ROAD FC and HEAT.
• International experience competing in South Korea, Japan, Mexico and the United States.
• Defeated Ukyo Abe by first-round ground-and-pound at ROAD FC 33.
• Scored a first-round stoppage of Luis Medrano in his Combate Americas debut in 2018.
• Won a HEAT lightweight championship bout against Shigeaki Kusayanagi in 2020.
• Returned from more than four years away from professional MMA to knock out Chang Geun Jeon in the first round in 2024.
• Challenged Jun Seo Choi for the vacant Black Combat Welterweight Championship in 2025.

Summary & Trajectory

Won Sik Park’s career represents more than a collection of wins and losses. Beginning his professional journey in 2004, Park belongs to a generation of Korean fighters who often had to leave Korea to find meaningful competition, building their careers throughout Japan before the country’s modern domestic MMA ecosystem had fully developed.

Across more than two decades, Park has competed for DREAM, Sengoku, DEEP, ROAD FC, Combate Americas, HEAT and Black Combat while maintaining the aggressive finishing style that defined his early career. With 13 stoppages among his 16 professional victories, the “Korean Gangster” has consistently been a fighter willing to take risks in pursuit of a finish.

His return through Black Combat added another chapter to an already unusually long career. More than four years after his previous professional appearance, Won Sik Park returned with a first-round knockout and ultimately earned a Black Combat welterweight title opportunity.

Regardless of whether another major run remains ahead of him, Park’s longevity and international résumé give him a distinct place within Korean MMA history.