Hyun Gyu Lim

Hyun Gyu Lim, nicknamed 'The Ace', is a South Korean mixed martial artist who carved out a six-year career in the UFC welterweight division following a distinguished run in regional Asian promotions. Born in 1985, Lim came to MMA after a childhood spent training in boxing and taekwondo, eventually turning professional after his mandatory military service. He climbed the ranks through promotions like DEEP and M-1 Global before winning the PXC welterweight championship in 2012, which led to his UFC signing that same year.

Lim's UFC debut in 2013 was a statement: a second-round knockout of Marcelo Guimarães announced his arrival as a dangerous finisher. He built an impressive early run with a first-round TKO over Pascal Krauss at UFC 164, a victory so dominant it earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus. His striking was his calling card - a high-volume, explosive approach from distance with genuine knockout power, landing over 4.4 significant strikes per minute while maintaining solid defensive fundamentals.

The peak of Lim's UFC tenure came in early 2014 when he stepped up on short notice to face welterweight contender Tarec Saffiedine in a main event. Though he lost the decision, the fight was so compelling it earned him a second consecutive Fight of the Night award, a rare distinction that cemented his status as an exciting competitor. However, the losses mounted thereafter: defeats to Neil Magny, Mike Perry, and Daichi Abe against increasingly stiff opposition suggested Lim's ceiling was that of a quality striker without the wrestling or versatility to hang with the division's elite. Released by the UFC in 2018, Lim finished his career with a 13-7-1 record, remembered as a knockout artist who delivered several memorable nights but couldn't quite break through to title contention.