Following his viral knockout loss to Hyuk Min Ji, Felipe Pereira returned against another Korean opponent—and once again failed to escape the opening round.
Felipe Pereira’s difficult run against Korean fighters continued with a second consecutive first-round defeat.
Jae Hyuk Bang, known as “Fire First,” submitted Pereira with a rear-naked choke at 4:15 of the opening round. The result gave Bang the victory most Black Combat fans expected while placing “TRG” on the first two-fight losing streak of his professional career.
Unlike Hyuk Min Ji’s victory over Ismail Kelemetov, this result was not considered an upset. Pereira entered as the underdog, while Black Combat’s fan predictions strongly favored Bang to win.
“Fire First” still had to prove those predictions correct once the cage door closed.
Bang controlled the fight long enough to take Pereira’s back and secure the rear-naked choke before the end of the opening round. Pereira was forced to submit with only 45 seconds remaining in the first.
From Hyuk Min Ji’s Knockout to Another First-Round Defeat
Pereira’s previous appearance became one of Black Combat’s most widely circulated moments of 2026—but not for the reason he wanted.
Before facing Hyuk Min Ji, Pereira attempted to control the buildup through insults, intimidation and relentless trash talk. “Red Hawk” answered by knocking him unconscious and leaving Pereira motionless on the canvas.
The finish quickly went viral and elevated Ji’s profile within the promotion.
Pereira later claimed that he had been receiving medical treatment and was affected by medication at the time of the fight. Ji showed little interest in the explanation, and the knockout remained the defining image of their rivalry.
The loss to Bang offered Pereira an opportunity to begin rebuilding his position inside Black Combat. Instead, he suffered another decisive defeat against a Korean opponent.
The methods were different, but the outcome was familiar.
Ji ended the fight with punches. Bang took Pereira’s back and finished him with a choke. Both fights ended in the opening round.
“Fire First” Delivers the Expected Result
There is always a different type of pressure attached to entering a fight as the favorite.
Bang was expected to win based on Black Combat’s fan predictions, meaning anything less than a convincing performance could have raised questions. A difficult decision or extended struggle against an opponent coming off a viral knockout loss would not have carried the same impact.
Bang avoided that problem by securing the finish.
The rear-naked choke demonstrated that “Fire First” could remain composed under the weight of expectations and capitalize once the fight entered a favorable position. Rather than allowing Pereira to survive into the second round, Bang closed the fight as soon as the opportunity appeared.
It may not generate the same social-media reaction as Ji’s knockout, but it was another clean first-round victory over a recognizable international opponent.
What Comes Next for “TRG”?
Pereira has now lost two consecutive fights, both against Korean competition and both inside the first round.
That leaves Black Combat with an interesting matchmaking decision.
Pereira remains a recognizable personality who knows how to create attention before a fight. His confidence, trash talk and willingness to engage with opponents make him useful in a promotion built around strong rivalries and international matchups.
However, another appearance would likely come with significant pressure. Pereira can no longer rely on the argument that the loss to Ji was a single bad night affected by outside circumstances. The submission against Bang has turned one defeat into a losing streak.
It will be interesting to see whether Black Combat gives “TRG” another Korean opponent—or changes direction completely.
A third matchup against a rising Korean fighter could provide another prospect with a recognizable international test. It could also give Pereira one final opportunity to prove that his recent results do not represent his actual level.
For now, the story is simple.
Hyuk Min Ji silenced Pereira with a knockout. Jae Hyuk Bang followed by submitting him with a rear-naked choke.
Two Korean opponents. Two first-round finishes. And far more uncertainty surrounding what comes next for “TRG.”
Pereira Says He Broke His Hand on the First Punch
Following the loss, Pereira provided his own explanation of how the fight unfolded.
In a video message to his supporters, “TRG” claimed that he broke his hand with the first punch he landed on Bang’s head. He then said his knee gave out, causing him to fall and recover his position incorrectly. According to Pereira, Bang recognized the opening, moved to his back and attacked the rear-naked choke.
Pereira said the injured hand left him without enough strength to complete his defense.
“What’s up, family? I’m stopping by to give you an update. Everything is okay. I just broke my hand with the first punch I landed on my opponent’s head.
“Then my knee gave out. I ended up falling, got back up the wrong way and my opponent took advantage of the opening and went to my back.
“He attacked the rear-naked choke. I tried to defend, but I didn’t have any strength in my hand. I held onto his hands and tried to defend, but he completed the rear-naked choke and submitted me.”
Pereira said he will now return to Brazil to spend time with his family and recover from the injury. He initially said he would “probably” require surgery before quickly correcting himself and acknowledging that an operation appears unavoidable.
“A champion doesn’t live only through victories. I’m going back to Brazil now to enjoy some time with my family and recover from this injury.
“I’ll probably—actually, not probably—I’ll have to undergo surgery on my hand. I’ll be away for a while, but I’ll be back soon and stronger than ever.”
Pereira’s reported hand injury and anticipated surgery have not been independently confirmed. If surgery is required, however, his immediate future in Black Combat may depend as much on his recovery timeline as the promotion’s next matchmaking decision.
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