An looks to August competition to become UFC fighter

Mixed Martial Arts 

Hồ Tuấn An will compete in the Dana White’s Contender Series on August 13 in Nevada. It is an event to select fighters for the UFC, the largest MMA organisation in the world. Photo courtesy of Hồ Tuấn An

HÀ NỘI Vietnamese Hồ Tuấn An aims to realise his dream of being an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter by taking part in a selection competition in August in the US.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the largest MMA promotion organisation in the world as of 2023.

The goal for just about every MMA fighter is making it to the UFC. It is the premier MMA stage in the world, featuring the best and biggest stars in the sport.

An announced that he would compete in the Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), an event to scout talent for the UFC, on August 13.

An, aka The Highlight, has recently made MMA headlines for his talent, through an outstanding record. The 24-year-old has fought 13 matches, seven amateur and six professional, and he won all.

In his latest match at the Legacy Fighting Alliance 176, he defeated Miguel Sanson of the US by unanimous decision after three rounds.

An was born in 2000 in Tây Ninh Province before moving the US when he was 12.

An trained at The MMA Lab, one of the best martial arts training facilities in Arizona. His first match was in 2018 and in four years he competed and won all seven bouts.

At age 22, he began his professional career and joined Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), a mixed martial arts promotion company based in Houston.

The LFA was established by Mick Maynard, vice president of the UFC. It is home to many famous fighters such as Alex Pereira, Brandon Moreno, Kamaru Usman and Valentina Shevchenko.

Hồ Tuấn An (right) seen in fight against Edwin De Los Santos at the LFA 158 event. An won via unanimous decision. 

An impressed experts and supporters with his strong striking ability and good ground fighting technique.

He made the audience go wild with his powerful finishes that knocked out Guilherme Crossi in the LFA 124, Matt Barro in the LFA 135 and Kendrick Latman in the LFA 168.

An is the 31st ranked player of 466 active in the United States Pro Flyweights.

DWCS is supervised by UFC President Dana White, who will select the most outstanding talents to the UFC. After seven seasons, many stars have been found. Last year, Jamahal Hill and Sean O’Malley, who were picked from DWCS, became UFC champions.

An's rival has not been revealed yet but with just one more win he will gain his chance to fight on the world largest MMA stage.

Prior to An, five Vietnamese athletes have signed UFC contracts. They are Stephen Nguyễn in 2023, Cung Lê in 2011-14 (two wins, two losses), Nam Phan in 2010-14 (two wins, five losses), Ben Nguyễn in 2015-18 (four wins, three losses) and Kyler Phillips since 2020 (five wins, one loss. VNS