No such thing as ring rust for UFC Fight Night 124 headliner Doohoo Choi

ST. LOUIS – UFC featherweight Doohoo Choi needed a break.

At least, that’s what it looked like after his “Fight of the Year” candidate with Cub Swanson at UFC 206. To anyone who had any concern for his safety and well-being, a six-month rest wasn’t extreme.

Injury scrapped Choi’s return this past July, but he’s now back on the active list and ready to pick up where he left off. A fight with perennial contender Jeremy Stephens (26-14 MMA, 13-13 UFC) on Sunday at UFC Fight Night 124 presents a chance to work into the title picture.

“I don’t have such a thing as ring rust,” Choi (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) said through a translator. “I just want to show you how I worked so hard throughout the last year.”

UFC Fight Night 124 takes place at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The event’s main card airs live on FS1 following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Part of his work on the mats at the open workout for Sunday’s event was centered around grappling. That might suggest an approach to Stephens that better protects his brain. But he said fans should expect the same hard-charging fighter that took the MMA world by storm this past year.

“I’m just going to do whatever I’ve got to do,” Choi said.

For more on UFC Fight Night 124, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.