“Pretty Boy” Won Il Kwon is headed to Dana White’s Contender Series with a UFC contract in his sights — and the Korean veteran is treating the opportunity like it could be his last.
Won Il Kwon is ready to bet on himself one more time.
The Korean fighter is headed to the United States for an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, where a victory — and the right performance — could finally earn him a UFC contract.
For Kwon, the opportunity carries more weight than simply another fight overseas.
“This could be my last one,” Kwon said while discussing the trip. “It’s also a new beginning, but I’m going to give it everything I have. This time, I want to enjoy it and show everyone a great fight.”
The circumstances surrounding this trip are also considerably different from his previous experience abroad.
Kwon’s team explained that problems involving his corner during his last trip left him without the support system they originally envisioned. This time, the preparation has been much more complete.
His team has worked through the fight strategy together, and Kwon will travel with two trusted partners who can assist throughout fight week.
“This time I feel much more secure,” Kwon said. “I think the training will go well once we arrive, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
One Week to Adjust
Kwon will not have much time to settle into the United States.
During his previous trip, he arrived approximately two weeks before competing. For Contender Series, that window has been reduced to roughly one week.
The plan is to spend the first three days training, adjusting to the time difference and managing his condition. Around the fourth or fifth day, Kwon will check in for Contender Series and begin the final stretch of fight week and his weight cut.
At the time of filming, Kwon estimated he still had approximately six to seven kilograms left to lose.
It is more weight than he would ideally like to be carrying this close to the fight, but he remains confident that it can be managed.
“I’m a little worried because I didn’t get the weight down beforehand like last time,” Kwon said. “But I think this is still within a manageable range. If I keep the diet really strict, I think I’ll have enough room.”
Helping make that possible has been his wife.
Kwon credited her with taking control of his nutrition throughout camp, researching his diet and carefully measuring his meals.
“My wife has made the diet really strict this time,” Kwon said. “She measures everything by the gram. She’s basically been like my personal nutritionist. I’m really thankful to her, and my condition is great right now.”
Jet lag is another potential obstacle, but Kwon believes previous experience has shown that he adjusts unusually well to traveling to the United States.
That leaves the weight cut as his primary concern once he lands.
No Excuses About the Last Fight
The conversation also revealed more about the physical condition Kwon carried into his previous fight.
According to his team, Kwon was already dealing with a hand injury before the bout.
After the opening round, he returned to his corner with an unusual expression on his face. When the team examined his hand, the injury had opened significantly.
The damage was serious enough that blood sprayed from the wound when it was examined.
His corner chose not to make an issue of the injury during the fight. The concern was that repeatedly drawing Kwon’s attention to it would only make him more conscious of the pain.
Kwon acknowledged that the injury affected him, but immediately rejected using it to rewrite the result.
“It’s an excuse,” Kwon said. “I lost, and he fought well. That’s true.”
His focus now is on making the previous result irrelevant by delivering when his next opportunity arrives.
“If I go there this time, fight well and win, then everything will be fine.”
More importantly, Kwon says he enters this fight healthy.
Keeping the Pressure Away Until Fight Night
Considering what is at stake, Kwon appeared remarkably relaxed as his departure approached.
That is intentional.
Rather than turning the entire week into an emotionally exhausting countdown, Kwon prefers keeping the atmosphere around his team comfortable until it is actually time to compete.
“I only need to be nervous when it’s time for the fight,” Kwon said.
He believes carrying that intensity throughout an entire camp or fight week can eventually become counterproductive.
Instead, Kwon wants the people around him to maintain something closer to a family atmosphere — relaxed on the outside while remaining sharp underneath.
Then, when fight time arrives, everything changes.
Fighting for Everyone Who Helped Him Get There
When asked what he wanted to say to the people waiting to see him compete, Kwon didn’t begin with predictions.
He began with gratitude.
Kwon thanked the numerous coaches, training partners, media members and supporters who contributed to his preparation and helped him reach another major international opportunity.
That support has also added another layer of motivation.
After receiving so much help, Kwon said the thought of traveling to the United States and delivering the worst version of himself would be difficult to accept.
“There are so many people I’m thankful for,” Kwon said. “If I received all of that help and then went there and showed my worst performance, I think I would be really disappointed in myself.”
Kwon isn’t guaranteeing a UFC contract.
He isn’t guaranteeing how the fight will unfold either.
What he is promising is an effort worthy of the people who helped send him there.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to go there and do absolutely everything I can,” Kwon said. “I’m going to do my best to show everyone a great victory.”
“I’m Back”
There was still room for some of the familiar “Pretty Boy” personality before Kwon left.
At the end of the conversation, he was asked whether winning on Contender Series would bring back one of his more memorable declarations — his claim about being the “best boxer.”
Kwon laughed.
Not yet.
“I’m not even in the UFC yet,” he said, noting that the Contender Series setting may not give him the same opportunity for an elaborate post-fight microphone moment.
But Kwon isn’t ruling out saying something.
If everything goes according to plan, he already has a simpler message in mind.
“I might say something like, ‘I’m back.’”
After that?
Kwon says he’ll freestyle it.
For now, the talking matters considerably less than what happens when the cage door closes.
Won Il Kwon is heading to Dana White’s Contender Series with another opportunity to put himself in front of the UFC.
He knows there may not be many more.
And this time, “Pretty Boy” intends to come home with more than another fight on his record.
He wants the contract.
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