Manipuri mixed martial artist Chungreng Koren moved a step closer to earning a UFC contract after defeating Japan’s previously unbeaten Ryuho Miyaguchi in the bantamweight quarterfinals of Road to UFC Season 5 in Macau on Thursday.

Koren secured the victory through a rear-naked choke at the 4:00 mark of the second round following a dominant comeback performance against the Japanese fighter, who entered the contest with an unbeaten 7-0 record.
The bout began on a competitive note, with Miyaguchi landing effective straight right hands early in the second round. However, Koren turned the momentum in his favour after dropping Miyaguchi with a powerful left hand.

He then took control on the ground with sustained pressure and strikes before transitioning to his opponent’s back to seal the submission finish late in the round.

The victory marks a major milestone in Koren’s career, especially after a difficult phase earlier this year when he lost his Matrix Fight Night bantamweight title to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant.
Koren had also earlier missed an opportunity to compete in Road to UFC due to contractual issues. This time, he entered the tournament at short notice after South Korea’s Shin You-min withdrew because of a knee injury. Initially listed as a backup fighter, Koren made the most of the opportunity despite limited preparation time.

His only setback ahead of the contest came during the official weigh-ins on Wednesday, where he failed to make the bantamweight limit.

With the quarterfinal win, Koren advanced to the semifinals of Road to UFC Season 5, where he is expected to face the winner between Ryo Tajima and Ti Haitao.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant also progressed to the next round after defeating Kimbert Alintozon via second-round TKO, keeping alive the possibility of a much-anticipated rematch with Koren later in the tournament, with a UFC contract potentially at stake.