Black Combat CEO Pyeong Hwa Park says negotiations are in the final stages for what could become the richest fight in Korean MMA history featuring Choo Sung Hoon.
The wait is nearly over.
After first announcing that Choo Sung Hoon (Yoshihiro Akiyama) would compete under the Black Combat banner earlier this year, the promotion has now officially confirmed that the former UFC and K-1 HERO’S star will headline Black Combat 17 on November 21 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
While the date and venue are now locked in, one major question remains unanswered.
Who will stand across from one of Asia’s greatest mixed martial arts icons in what is expected to be the final fight of his legendary career?
According to Black Combat CEO Pyeong Hwa Park, the promotion is entering the final stages of negotiations.
Speaking during a recent Black Combat broadcast, Park revealed that there are multiple candidates under consideration and suggested an announcement could come soon.
He also made perhaps the biggest claim yet surrounding the event.
Park stated that Choo’s retirement bout will carry the highest purse ever paid in Korean MMA, potentially surpassing the amount ONE Championship paid the veteran during his recent appearances.
If true, it would mark another milestone for a promotion that has repeatedly positioned itself as a disruptor in the Korean MMA landscape.
A Fight Bigger Than Rankings
Unlike most retirement fights, Choo Sung Hoon’s final appearance isn’t about championship implications.
It’s about legacy.
For more than two decades, Choo has represented Asian MMA on the biggest stages in the world. From his iconic runs in K-1 HERO’S and the UFC to his resurgence under the ONE Championship banner, the 51-year-old has remained one of the sport’s most recognizable figures.
His final opponent therefore carries enormous significance.
Black Combat has several compelling directions it could take.
A matchup against one of Korea’s rising welterweights would create a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment, giving the next generation an opportunity to defeat one of the country’s greatest combat sports pioneers.
A matchup with a technically sharp striker could produce the most natural showcase for this stage of Choo’s career. Although his judo and grappling remain foundational parts of his skill set, many of his later fights have developed into striking battles, where his durability, timing and willingness to trade have continued to make him dangerous. An aggressive opponent would likely create the kind of physical, crowd-pleasing fight that fans have come to expect from Choo.
The Dream Fight Still Lingers
Of every name fans continue to mention, none generates more excitement than Wanderlei Silva.
The matchup has become one of MMA’s great “what ifs.”
The pair were originally scheduled to meet inside the UFC in 2012 before the fight ultimately fell apart.
More than a decade later, both men remain global icons whose names transcend rankings and championship belts.
While questions remain over whether the bout is realistic, it would undoubtedly become one of the biggest attractions in Asian MMA history if Black Combat could pull it together.
For many longtime fans, it’s still the retirement fight they’ve been waiting to see.
Myung Ho Bae Has Already Raised His Hand
One opponent, however, has made his intentions crystal clear.
Former AFC and LFC champion Myung Ho Bae recently signed with Black Combat following an impressive first-round doctor stoppage victory over Han Seul Kim at ZFN in May.
The Team MAD veteran made no secret about why he joined the promotion.
“I came here for Choo Sung Hoon.”
During his introductory interview, Bae explained that he had admired Choo throughout his career and wanted the matchup for years.
He previously called out the MMA legend while competing for another organization, but believed pursuing the fight from outside Black Combat created unnecessary controversy.
Rather than continuing to call him out from afar, Bae decided to sign with Black Combat himself.
He described it as the more respectful and gentlemanly approach, earning the opportunity from within the same promotion.
From a sporting perspective, the matchup has genuine appeal.
Bae enters the promotion with an 18-7-1 professional record and championship experience across multiple major Asian organizations, including ONE Championship, DREAM, DEEP, M-1 Global, AFC, LFC and ZFN.
Unlike a prospect seeking a breakthrough victory, Bae represents another respected veteran whose résumé stands among Korea’s best.
A Historic Night for Korean MMA
Regardless of who ultimately receives the call, Black Combat appears determined to make November 21 one of the biggest nights in Korean MMA history.
The combination of Gocheok Sky Dome, Choo Sung Hoon’s farewell, and what the promotion says will be a record-setting fighter purse signals an event built far beyond a typical domestic card.
For Choo, it represents the final chapter of an extraordinary career.
For Black Combat, it is another opportunity to demonstrate that Korean MMA can stage events capable of capturing worldwide attention.
The only remaining question is the one fans continue asking:
Who will earn the right to share the cage with Yoshihiro Akiyama one last time?
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