{
  "id": 18075611,
  "title": "Fan Favorite ‘The Iron Turtle’ Returns at UFC Saudi Arabia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/fan-favorite-the-iron-turtle-returns-at-ufc-saudi-arabia",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T05:34:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fan-favorite-iron-turtle-returns-053428761.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UFC Saudi Arabia will see middleweight fighter JunYong Park, affectionately known as \"The Iron Turtle,\" make his long-awaited return to the Octagon. Scheduled for December 5 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the event is rumored to feature a middleweight showdown between strikers Israel Adesanya and Shara Magomedov. Park, who previously faced Marco Tulio, is set to compete against his former opponent at UFC Saudi Arabia.\n\n<source>\nPark, 35, joined the UFC in 2019 and boasts a 9-4 record inside the Octagon. His victories include notable wins over Ismail Naurdiev, Brad Tavares, and Marc-Andre Barriault. Although Park has not fought since his October 2025 loss to Ikram Aliskerov, he remains a formidable contender at 185 lbs. Known for his durability and solid ground game, Park can also deliver effective strikes.\n\nPark's return to the UFC comes as a fan favorite, having recently completed a four-fight winning streak. He will face Tulio, a Brazilian knockout artist with a 2-2 UFC record since joining the organization in 2025. Tulio's first two UFC wins came via knockout against Ihor Potieria and Tresean Gore, but he has since suffered consecutive losses to Christian Leroy Duncan and Roman Kopylov. Nonetheless, Tulio remains a dangerous knockout threat capable of ending fights with a single powerful punch.\n\nThe matchup between Park and Tulio promises to be an exciting clash of styles. Park is expected to attempt to take the fight to the ground, while Tulio aims to keep the action standing. Ultimately, the victor will likely be the fighter who can dominate the bout in their preferred territory.",
  "summary": "Fan favorite middleweight JunYong Park, nicknamed “The Iron Turtle,” will make his return to the Octagon at UFC Saudi Arabia.The UFC Saudi Arabia card takes place on Saturday, December 5, at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is rumored to be headlined by a five-round middleweight matchup between strikers Israel Adesanya and Shara Magomedov.JunYong […] The post Fan Favorite ‘The Iron Turtle’…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}