MACAU
In a thrilling showcase of grit, wrestling prowess, and elite grappling, Manipuri mixed martial artist Chungreng Koren—popularly known as the “Indian Rhino”—has scripted history. Competing at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, Koren dismantled Japan’s previously undefeated contender, Ryuho Miyaguchi, securing a spectacular victory via a rear-naked choke at the 4:00 mark of Round 2 to advance to the bantamweight semifinals of Road to UFC Season 5.
Overcoming Severe Adversity & Mental Block
This victory carries massive emotional and professional weight for the 28-year-old fighter. Months earlier, Koren had fallen into a deep personal and professional slump after losing his Matrix Fight Night (MFN) bantamweight championship to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant—a setback that pushed him through a challenging phase of self-doubt.
Furthermore, Koren entered this elite international tournament under extreme constraints. Originally designated as a mere backup fighter, he received a last-minute, short-notice call-up after South Korea’s Shin You-min suffered a knee injury. Despite limited preparation and a minor setback where he missed the bantamweight limit by 3.5 pounds during weigh-ins (resulting in a 140-pound catchweight bout and sacrificing $30\%$ of his fight purse), Koren showed the heart of a champion inside the cage.
How the Fight Was Won
The bout opened competitively, with Miyaguchi (who held an undefeated 7-0 record) finding his rhythm early in the second round by landing sharp straight right hands. However, the Indian Rhino quickly adapted. Koren blasted Miyaguchi with a thunderous left hand that dropped the Japanese fighter and completely shifted the momentum. Koren immediately swarmed him on the canvas with ground-and-pound strikes, transitioned masterfully to his back, and locked in a deep rear-naked choke to force the tap-out.
What’s Next? A Potential High-Stakes Rematch
With this quarterfinal victory under his belt, Koren moves into the semifinals where he will square off against Japan’s Ryo Tajima.
Intriguingly, on the other side of the tournament bracket, his former rival Rabindra Dhant of Nepal also won his respective quarterfinal bout via a second-round TKO. This sets up an absolute blockbuster narrative: if both fighters win their semifinal matches, they will meet in the finals with a highly coveted, life-changing UFC contract on the line.
