Kwon Won-il gets second shot at UFC contract, faces Gomes at DWCS

Kwon Won-il, a striker who made his name at Asia's largest mixed martial arts promotion ONE Championship, is taking another shot at breaking into the UFC.

Kwon, 31, will compete at Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) Season 10 on Wednesday at 8 a.m. Korean Standard Time at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. His opponent is Apollo Gomes, 26, a Brazilian prospect with a 12-2 record.

Kwon passed the official weigh-in on Tuesday, coming in at 135.5 pounds (61.46 kilograms) — just under the bantamweight limit of 136 pounds. Gomes weighed in at the same figure.

In footage released from the weigh-in, Kwon appeared relaxed and self-assured, standing shirtless with both hands tucked into the pockets of his training pants. What might have read as arrogance was undercut by the sharp lines of his cheekbones after a hard cut, his piercing gaze and clenched jaw — all signaling a fighter with something to prove.

Kwon suffered a second-round spinning back elbow TKO loss to Juan Diaz at DWCS Season 9 last October, making this his second attempt at the series.

Kwon departed for the United States earlier this month. "So many people are cheering me on — I would be ashamed of myself if I put on a poor performance," he said. "I will give everything I have and come back with a UFC contract."

Foreign media outlets have called Kwon's return to DWCS despite a two-fight losing streak a "rare case." The series typically invites only fighters on winning runs, as a single victory is usually enough to earn a UFC contract.

The invitation speaks to how highly the UFC regards Kwon. The promotion has been drawn to his finishing ability — 13 stoppages in 14 wins, including 12 by knockout — and his aggressive, high-octane style. Observers also note that his first loss in the current skid came in a title fight against Fabricio Andrade, widely considered one of ONE Championship's most dominant champions.

Combat Press described Kwon as "a rare case of getting another opportunity after back-to-back losses," noting he is returning for a second consecutive year after suffering "one of the best KOs in DWCS history." The outlet added that both Kwon and Gomes favor brawling exchanges, predicting a compelling fight between the two, with the winner likely earning a UFC contract.

The event will be available to watch live on UFC Fight Pass. No domestic television broadcast is scheduled in South Korea.