A promotional mini-game took an unfortunate turn as Sung Jun Park suffered an injury during Mongolian wrestling, leading to a late replacement by Dong Gyu Kim just one week before Black Cup.
Just one week before one of Black Combat’s biggest events of the summer, Team Korea Omega has been forced into an unexpected lineup change.
Black Combat announced that Sung Jun Park, better known by his nickname “Underdog,” has withdrawn from the BnD Black Cup Semifinal: Korea Omega vs Mongolia after suffering an injury during promotional activities for the event. Stepping in on short notice will be Dong Gyu Kim (“Big Mouth”), who will now face Mongolia’s Bo’orchu on July 26 at Jamsil Students’ Gymnasium in Seoul.
The event remains sold out and will stream live for Black Combat YouTube Membership subscribers at the “Numbering” tier.
Injury Occurred During Promotional Filming
Unlike most fight-week injuries that occur during training camp, Park’s setback happened during the promotion of the event itself.
In a recently released Black Combat promotional episode featuring Team Korea Omega and Team Mongolia, both teams participated in several friendly mini-games designed to build anticipation for the international team competition.
One of those activities introduced the Korean fighters to traditional Mongolian wrestling.
During the segment, Park squared off with Bo’orchu in a wrestling exchange. As the two grappled, Park fell awkwardly onto his arm and elbow while attempting to brace himself on the mat. The injury appeared significant enough that he was later ruled out of the event.
While Black Combat has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the injury, the promotion confirmed that Park would be unable to compete.
Dong Gyu Kim Answers the Call
With only seven days remaining before fight night, Black Combat quickly secured a replacement.
The promotion announced that Dong Gyu Kim (“Big Mouth”) will step in to preserve the matchup against Bo’orchu, ensuring Team Korea Omega maintains its lineup for the highly anticipated international clash.
Accepting a fight on one week’s notice is never an easy task, particularly against an opponent who has been preparing for months. Nevertheless, Kim’s willingness to step in keeps one of the featured team matchups intact and prevents another late change to the event.
For Team Korea Omega, maintaining momentum heading into the semifinal carries added importance as they prepare to face one of Mongolia’s toughest lineups.
Black Cup Continues to Build Momentum
The BnD Black Cup Semifinal has been promoted as one of Black Combat’s largest events of the year, featuring an international team competition between Korea Omega and Team Mongolia alongside a stacked main card.
Black Combat has invested heavily in the event’s build-up, producing behind-the-scenes episodes, team challenges, and promotional content designed to introduce fans to both squads before they enter the cage.
Ironically, it was one of those promotional activities that resulted in Park’s withdrawal.
While the injury is undoubtedly disappointing for both Park and fans eager to watch him compete, the incident also highlights one of the risks promotions face when blending physical entertainment with fight-week marketing.
A Different Challenge for Big Mouth
Kim now finds himself thrust into one of the promotion’s most anticipated events with minimal preparation time.
Although stepping in late presents obvious challenges, short-notice opportunities have often produced memorable moments in MMA. With Team Korea Omega looking to defend home soil against Mongolia, the stakes remain high regardless of the late lineup change.
For Bo’orchu, the challenge also changes. Rather than facing the original matchup he prepared for, the Mongolian representative will now need to adjust to a new opponent with a different style just days before entering the cage.
What It Means
Late fight changes are an unfortunate reality in mixed martial arts, but few happen as unexpectedly as an injury sustained during a promotional event.
Black Combat’s creative approach to storytelling and athlete-driven content has become one of the promotion’s defining strengths, helping build excitement around major cards like Korea Omega vs. Mongolia. This week’s incident serves as a reminder that even outside the cage, the physical nature of combat sports can carry real risks.
With Dong Gyu Kim stepping in for Sung Jun Park, Team Korea Omega avoids losing one of its scheduled matchups and keeps the international showdown intact. Fans will now turn their attention to July 26 to see whether “Big Mouth” can capitalize on a last-minute opportunity and help Korea Omega secure a crucial victory against Team Mongolia.
Full promotional video available courtesy of Black Combat’s Youtube Channel.
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