Yoo Ju-sang seeks second UFC win against Rahiki in Sydney

With his UFC roster spot on the line, Yoo Ju-sang is heading to Australia in search of his second UFC victory and a way out of a two-fight losing streak.

Yoo will face Marwan Rahiki, 24, of Morocco in a featherweight bout (65.8 kilograms) at UFC Fight Night: Salkeld vs. Saint-Denis, set for Feb. 7 (Korean Standard Time) at Aware Super Theatre in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia. The bout marks his return to the octagon roughly five months after a split-decision loss to Michael Azswell Jr. in September.

Yoo, who carries a 9-2 professional record, made a striking debut in the UFC last year, knocking out Zeka Saragi and earning a Performance of the Night bonus. The momentum stalled when he suffered his first professional loss — a KO defeat to Daniel Santos in October last year — and then dropped a decision to Azswell Jr. in September, leaving him on a two-fight skid.

A turnaround is urgent. The UFC has shown a growing tendency to cut lower-ranked fighters without a marquee name if they suffer three straight losses. The organization has even released decision-heavy fighters such as Farid Basharat and Muhammad Mokaev in quick succession, so Yoo cannot afford to be complacent.

Rahiki is also coming off a defeat. The prospect holds a 9-1 professional record and entered the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series last year. He finished all nine of his wins before dropping a decision to Tommy McMillen in September in a back-and-forth striking contest — his first professional loss. Now based in Sydney, Rahiki is looking to bounce back on home turf.

Both fighters rely on striking as their primary weapon. Yoo began boxing in middle school and, after transitioning to mixed martial arts, has used precise, powerful punching to finish four of his nine wins by KO.

Rahiki started kickboxing at 14 and moved from Morocco to Australia at 19, adding jiu-jitsu and other disciplines to develop into a well-rounded MMA fighter. Eight of his nine professional wins have come by KO, and he attacks with punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes.

The Sydney card will also host the Road to UFC Season 5 finals, which determine which fighters earn UFC contracts. Park Bo-hyun, 27, has reached the women's strawweight final (52.2 kilograms) and will face China's Meng Bo, 30, for a UFC deal.

The main event features lightweight No. 7 Quillan Salkeld, 26, of Australia against No. 6 Benoit Saint-Denis, 30, of France. In the co-main event, former UFC middleweight champion and current light heavyweight No. 11 Robert Whittaker, 35, of Australia takes on No. 8 Bogdan Guskov, 34, of Uzbekistan.