‘Indian Rhino’ Chungreng Koren finds his way back with a UFC contract within reach | MMA News

Chungreng Koren is lighter now. He is also more prepared.That may seem like a simple observation ahead of his Road to UFC Season 5 bantamweight semifinal against Japan’s Ryo Tajima in Shanghai on August 28. For Koren, however, the difference between this camp and the one preceding their quarterfinal is significant.When he arrived in Macau for the first round in May, Koren had accepted the fight on short notice after initially being named as an alternate.He missed weight before facing previously undefeated Japanese Ryuho Miyaguchi. Still, inside the cage he put together one of the most impressive performances of the first round, flooring Miyaguchi with a left hand before finishing him off with a rear-naked choke at 4:00 of the second round.This time, Koren says, the preparation has been different.“It was very different. In the last fight, I just did sauna and tried to lose weight. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so I tried,” Koren told TimesofIndia.com before the semi-final fight.“This time I was at home for three months. I rested for 10 days. After that, I went to train.”

A different camp, a different Koren

The issue of weight is something that Koren does not avoid. It was an unwanted footnote to an otherwise important night. But Koren admits the biggest problem was what happened after his previous loss.In August 2025, he lost his Matrix Fight Night bantamweight title to Rabindra Dhant of Nepal. The loss came after Koren had already seen a previous Road to UFC opportunity disappear due to contractual obligations. The combination left him struggling with his mental health and, eventually, his discipline.“Last time, [when] I lost; After that, I became depressed. I was thinking I was going to go to the UFC, but I lost. “I lost my mind,” he said.“I used to eat healthy food and did regular training. [After that] I didn’t leave my house. I used to eat whatever I wanted. Because of this, my physical and mental condition declined.”The correction, for Koren, had to start with the basics.“If we want to fight, we have to be disciplined. But I lost discipline. That’s why I couldn’t lose weight. Now I want to eat healthy food. I want to maintain my body. “I want to recover.”The numbers tell part of that change. Koren says he came into the previous fight at around 71kg and is now down to around 66-67kg.Work has also been done on his game. After Dhant’s defeat, Koren traveled to Dagestan, where he trained with wrestlers, strikers, and UFC fighters. He had previously described that period as a reset, saying it helped him stop relying primarily on toughness and pressure and pay more attention to technique, timing and discipline.Before Tajima, he also spent time training in Phuket.“I recently trained in Phuket. I have very good teammates there. The UFC fighters trained with me and [we] They fought together. So I am ready to put in a good performance this time,” Koren said.The improvement that he feels most strongly is in his hitting. “I have improved my stroke,” he said when asked what had changed the most since Dhant’s defeat.That improvement was visible against Miyaguchi. The Japanese fighter began to find his range early in the second round, landing straight right hands. Koren responded with a left hand that dropped him, followed the opening with strikes to the ground and finally moved back for the submission.

Ryo Tajima presents a different test

Tajima, however, offers a different problem. He is 11-3 and reaches the semifinals after beating China’s Ti Haitao by split decision in May. Koren sees the Japanese fighter as a more experienced opponent with physical advantages.“Any fighter at this level has to be good and has more experience than me. He has better range than me. He would put more pressure on me. That’s why I study it.”Koren’s response to that outreach is simple. “I think my biggest advantage against him will be my takedown. He has a long reach. So I think my biggest advantage against him will be my takedown.”That may be one of the clearest indications of how Koren expects the fight to play out. Tajima has already shown that he can handle a three-round fight and combine wrestling with striking. Koren, meanwhile, is coming off a performance where he showed he can hurt an opponent on the feet before taking the fight to the ground.However, there is little interest in looking beyond August 28. Koren is now one win away from the Road to UFC final. A victory would take a fight out of the UFC contract he has pursued for years.But ask him about that contract and his response is immediate.“Only one thing right now.”Which is it?“Tajima.”

Rematch against Rabindra Dhant can wait

The other semi-final has its own meaning for Koren. Dhant is on the opposite side of the draw, facing unbeaten New Zealander Kasib Murdoch.Therefore, a rematch between Koren and Dhant remains possible. The first match ended with Dhant taking Koren’s MFN title. This time, the stakes would be considerably higher.Koren knows this, but he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.“First we have to win this fight. Both fighters are good. Rabindranath Dant is good. No matter what happens, I have to win this fight first.”Still, Koren sees the possibility of a rematch differently this time. His first fight generated significant interest around his profile, and Koren said it attracted more than 50,000 views to his account. If they meet again with a UFC contract on the line, he believes the interest would be even greater.“Last time we fought on MFN. I had more than 50,000 views on my account. And we were very enthusiastic. And if I fight Dant, it will create a big stir.”For Koren, that makes a potential rematch more than just a chance to settle scores.“It’s a good opportunity and we’ll have a good story too. But we’ll see.”

The pressure of fighting for India

While Koren’s focus is on Tajima, that’s partly tactical. It’s also about the pressure Koren now feels. Before the tournament began, he talked about taking his mother, his wife, his son, his people and his country with him. In Shanghai, that responsibility seems even greater.“This is very special. We are not fighting just for ourselves. Not for our family. I am fighting for my country.”“At the same time, there are a lot of risks. If I lose, there will be two or three people who will say good things about me. But there will be 100 people who will troll me.”It’s a different way of describing what’s at stake. The UFC contract is the obvious prize. He also sees the opportunity as part of a larger problem in Indian MMA: he believes there are fighters, but not enough regular opportunities for them to develop professionally.“If we want to grow even more, we have to invest in MMA, we have to participate in tournaments, and only then can we find good fighters,” he said.“In India, MFN is number one. Then there is Ronin FC, Aturto and we have five or six more. But we don’t do it.” [tournaments] regularly.”

What Indian MMA needs next

Their argument is simple: more competition would create more fighters.“In other countries they have regular tournaments, so if we can invest in 20 or 25 tournaments for professional fighters, very soon, in two or three years, we will find good fighters.”Koren has already become part of that search for visibility. His first Road to UFC run was over before it began. His second arrived unexpectedly. He then missed weight, entered the cage against an undefeated opponent and won by submission.Now there are no excuses for short notice, no substitute status and no need to wonder if you belong in the tournament.And Koren’s message to the young fighters watching is the same one he has repeated during setbacks.“First of all, you don’t have to give up.”He pauses and then repeats it.“You don’t have to give up.”But he also offers a warning that comes from his own experience.“And this is a very rigorous game. And you have to think 10 times before taking this step. And if you want to advance, you have to sacrifice first.”“You have to dedicate yourself. If you sacrifice first, dedication will come. First, you have to sacrifice. You have to keep going. That’s all I have to say.”On August 28, Koren has another chance to move forward. This time he had the camp. He has worked on the strike. He says his body is ready. And, at least for now, there is only one name occupying his mind. Tajima.Watch ROAD TO UFC Season 5 SF (Koren vs Ryo Tajima) on August 28, 2026, starting at 2:30 pm IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and Sony LIV.