She’s Next – WMMA Weekly Preview
Each week, I’ll highlight one women’s prospect on my radar and in action in the upcoming days
So Yul Kim
Record: 9-1
Weight Class: Strawweight
Age: 28 years old
Training: MOB Training Center
Combined opponents’ record: 39-38
So Yul Kim (김소율) is a South Korean women’s MMA fighter. She competes primarily in the strawweight division. Fighting out of the MOB Training Center, she has quietly established a strong presence on the regional scene. She has compiled a professional record of 9–1. Her only loss came early in her career in 2018. After that, she went on an extended undefeated run.
Kim’s early development took place across a mix of domestic Korean promotions and broader Asian circuits. She competed on platforms such as ONE Championship’s “Friday Fights” series. In addition, she appeared in organizations including MAX FC, where she also gained kickboxing experience. She has also competed in Shooto and other regional promotions. She built a reputation as a consistent competitor, especially during a strong win streak from 2021 to 2023. This streak boosted her standing at atomweight and strawweight. Six of her nine wins have come by submission. That highlights her strength in grappling.
Kim’s career reached a significant turning point in 2023 when she was linked to the UFC and reportedly signed with the promotion. A debut was scheduled in Brazil against Eduarda Moura at the time. The bout was viewed as a typical entry point for a promising regional fighter transitioning to a higher level of competition. However, the debut ultimately did not materialize. Kim withdrew from the matchup. As a result, her opportunity with the UFC collapsed due to contractual complications related to prior promotional commitments.
Following this setback, Kim experienced a period of inactivity. Since the failed UFC signing, she has competed only once. She secured a submission victory over Qingqing Yang at AFC 37 in 2025.
As a result, her career now occupies a somewhat unusual position. Despite being on the verge of a UFC debut, she has yet to compete at that level. Additionally, Kim has remained relatively inactive since. Her trajectory illustrates how factors such as timing and contractual obligations can significantly influence a fighter’s progress. This is true alongside in-cage performance.
With a 9–1 record, Kim remains an experienced yet still developing competitor. Her future now appears to depend less on the missed UFC opportunity. Instead, it depends more on her ability to rebuild momentum through consistent activity on the regional circuit.
She is scheduled to return to competition under a new promotion after signing with DEEP JEWELS. Kim will face Nonoka Sakamoto (3–0) at DEEP JEWELS 53 in Tokyo. This bout will mark her debut with the organization and an important step toward renewed activity. A strong performance could position her for another opportunity to pursue a UFC contract.
Technically, Kim’s game is built far more around opportunism and composure than overwhelming athleticism. While she is not physically imposing for the strawweight division and can appear undersized against larger opponents, she compensates with timing, awareness, and a patient approach. One of the more noticeable aspects of her striking is her use of feints. Kim constantly looks to draw reactions and create openings. She often fires straight punches through defensive gaps rather than relying on prolonged exchanges. Her jab is sharp and surprisingly quick. Despite not being regarded as a particularly polished striker overall, she has shown flashes of respectable punching power. She is capable of catching opponents cleanly when they become predictable or overcommit offensively.
At the same time, her striking remains one of the more questionable areas of her game. Kim’s style on the feet can look awkward and somewhat difficult to read. However, it also creates limitations for her offensively. She sometimes struggles to consistently find her range, loops her punches, and can become relatively predictable in open-space exchanges. Defensively, she is hittable and does not move her head much. That leaves her vulnerable during extended striking sequences. Against higher-level opposition, those defensive habits could become a significant issue.
Her grappling is clearly the strongest aspect of her skill set. Kim is extremely opportunistic with submissions and has demonstrated a strong instinct for capitalizing on small openings. She is particularly dangerous around the neck, frequently hunting for guillotines and front headlocks whenever opponents expose themselves during scrambles or takedown attempts. Once she locks onto a choke, she possesses a very strong squeeze and has shown the ability to put opponents to sleep quickly. Even in less dominant positions, she remains calm and composed.
However, there are still clear limitations within her grappling. Although she is a capable submission specialist, her wrestling itself is not especially strong. Her takedown game relies more heavily on trips than traditional wrestling entries, and her takedown defense has also shown weaknesses. In the top position, she is not particularly active with ground-and-pound and often prefers controlling side positions rather than sitting aggressively inside guard. Additionally, because much of her career has taken place inside a ring rather than a cage, it remains possible that her grappling and takedown game could translate more effectively in a caged environment.
I wasn’t overly impressed with what I saw on tape, and in hindsight, I think Kim would have ultimately lost against Eduarda Moura back in 2023. As for this weekend, Kim faces a relatively green fighter, so I’ll be curious to see if we learn more about the gaps in Kim’s game come Sunday.
