SeokHyeon Ko’s Wrestling Leaves Rowe Without Room to Rally
SeokHyeon Ko defeated Phil Rowe by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs Onama on November 1, 2025. The welterweight contest at UFC APEX in Las Vegas ended with scores of 30–26, 30–27 and 30–27 after three rounds.
Takedowns establish the pattern
Ko relied on wrestling and heavy top control to establish the fight’s pattern. He took Rowe down in the first two rounds and restricted his opportunities to regain his feet, forcing the American to spend long stretches responding from underneath.
The third round followed a similar direction. Ko again put Rowe on his back and maintained the positional advantage through much of the final frame, leaving little time for Rowe to produce the sustained standing offense he needed.
Another decision extends Ko’s momentum
The victory followed Ko’s earlier decision over Oban Elliott in June and extended his overall winning streak to six. He left the November card with thirteen wins and two defeats, adding another successful result after graduating from Dana White’s Contender Series.
The official scorecards show every judge favoring Ko across the completed bout, with one returning a wider total than the other two. His nickname may evoke punching power, but this performance was built around takedowns and the inability of his opponent to escape. Rowe completed the distance, while Ko’s repeated control supplied the basis for the clear unanimous verdict.
Sources
- ufc.com: official judges scorecards ufc fight night garcia vs onama
- ufc.com: ufc fight night garcia vs onama prelim results highlights recaps winners interviews
Article Tags
SeokHyeon Ko, Phil Rowe, UFC, MMA
