The longtime Team MAD coach closes his competitive career with a second-round submission before an emotional celebration with teammates, family, and Korea’s MMA community.
A Storybook Ending
Some fighters spend years chasing championship gold. Others spend years building champions.
For In Ho Cha, he managed to do both.
The veteran Team MAD coach capped what appears to be the final fight of his professional career by defeating Woo Ram Shim via second-round armbar to capture the Uljin Fighting Championship Middleweight Championship on July 17 inside Uljin Public Gymnasium.
Officially, it goes into the record books as another title victory.
For those inside the arena, however, it felt like much more than that.
It was the closing chapter of a career that has helped shape one of Korea’s premier MMA gyms while inspiring countless fighters along the way.
An Emotional Night for Team MAD
The bout itself followed a familiar pattern.
From cageside, coaches repeatedly encouraged In Ho Cha to stay composed, establish his left hand, and continue applying pressure. Between rounds, Team MAD’s corner stressed patience and discipline as the veteran steadily imposed his game.
Midway through the second round, Cha secured the decisive armbar, forcing the submission at 4:12 of Round 2 and earning the UFC 05 middleweight belt.
The celebration afterward quickly became emotional.
As Cha embraced teammates and coaches, cameras captured tears from several people in his corner, an unusual but telling scene that reflected the significance of the moment.
“It Felt Like We Were Fighting Together”
One of the most heartfelt moments came during the post-fight interviews.
Coach Jung Hyun Jo, who served as In Ho Cha’s cornerman, admitted that emotions overwhelmed him during the opening round.
He explained that because he knew Cha’s life story and everything he had overcome throughout his career, memories kept flashing through his mind.
“It felt like I was fighting my last fight together with him.”
Jo added that although In Ho Cha may be retiring from competition, his journey in martial arts is far from over.
“Life continues. He may stop fighting professionally, but he’ll continue coaching fighters. Whatever he does, I just hope he’s happy.”
The respect appeared to be mutual.
Jo explained that although Cha was technically his student, he believed he had learned just as much from him, not only inside the gym, but as a person.
A Champion Respected Across Korean MMA
Uljin Fighting Championship officials also revealed why they were determined to give In Ho Cha one final title opportunity.
Promotion representatives recalled that in previous years, when other opponents declined matchups, Cha consistently stepped forward to help the event.
Because of that loyalty, they wanted to return the favor by giving him one final championship opportunity.
The gamble paid off.
Cha delivered another memorable performance before leaving his gloves behind as champion.
The promotion also announced that it hopes to continue offering retirement championship opportunities for veteran coaches and respected figures within Korean MMA—a unique tradition that recognizes those who have spent decades building the sport.
More Than Just a Belt
The championship carried extra meaning once Cha reunited with his family.
In one of the video’s lighter moments, his young son, who had watched the fight with a serious expression throughout the evening, was asked how he felt now that his father was officially champion.
His answer was simple.
“I’m happy.”
The brief exchange brought smiles after an evening filled with emotion and served as a reminder that, while titles eventually gather dust, moments like these last much longer.
What It Means
His victory at Uljin Fighting Championship 05 only reinforced that legacy.
Winning the middleweight title was an appropriate ending to his competitive career, but it is unlikely to define his future. As both teammates and coaches emphasized after the fight, In Ho Cha’s role in Korean MMA is simply changing, not ending.
The fighter may be retiring, but the coach, mentor, and leader of Team MAD remains an important part of the next generation’s story.
Full video available, courtesy of Yuksu Live Channel.
Full fights results for Korean MMA events are now available on our event pages. See Uljin Fighting Championship 05 page for more information.
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