Seokhyeon Ko vs. Oban Elliott: Prediction, Odds, and Betting Tips for June 21 Fight

The octagon lights will blaze in Baku, Azerbaijan, as UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree delivers a welterweight scrap that’s got fans buzzing. On June 21, 2025, South Korea’s Seokhyeon Ko squares off against Wales’ Oban Elliott in a clash of contrasting styles, with both fighters looking to climb the 170-pound ladder. Let’s break down their skills, form, and what’s at stake in this intriguing prelim bout.

Seokhyeon Ko

Seokhyeon Ko, a 31-year-old scrapper from Seoul, brings a 11-2 record and a relentless approach to the cage. Known for his sambo roots, Ko is a pressure cooker, constantly moving forward with crisp boxing combos and punishing leg kicks that can chop down opponents. His grappling is no joke either—takedowns from the clinch, honed by judo and Greco-Roman wrestling, let him smother foes on the mat. With a 2017 world sambo title and regional belts from AFC and HEAT, Ko’s pedigree is legit. He’s riding a four-fight win streak, including a unanimous decision over Igor Cavalcanti on DWCS 2024 to earn his UFC ticket. Mentally, Ko seems unshakable, thriving under pressure, but his chin has been cracked twice by knockouts, raising questions about his durability against heavy hitters.

Despite his momentum, Ko’s UFC debut is a tall order. His losses to Sasha Palatnikov (2018) and Han Seul Kim (2021) exposed a vulnerability to power punches, which could spell trouble against a creative striker. His footwork and head movement keep him slippery, but lapses in defense have cost him before. Ko’s cardio is solid, allowing him to maintain his high-output style, but he’ll need to avoid getting drawn into a chaotic brawl where his chin might betray him. If he can dictate the pace and lean on his wrestling, he’s got a real shot to make a statement.

Oban Elliott

Oban Elliott, the 27-year-old “Welsh Gangster,” is a 12-2 welterweight tearing through the division with an eight-fight win streak. Hailing from Merthyr Tydfil, Elliott’s unorthodox blend of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay thai makes him a puzzle for opponents. In the stand-up, he’s a sniper, landing over 60% of his strikes with spinning elbows and slicing knees from the clinch that can shift momentum. On the ground, his guard-ripping BJJ lets him escape bad spots and hunt submissions. Elliott’s mental toughness shines through in his ability to adapt mid-fight, exploiting opponents’ fatigue. His 2024 UFC run—unanimous decisions over Val Woodburn and Preston Parsons, plus a TKO of Bassil Hafez at UFC 309—earned him a performance bonus and cemented his rising star status.

That said, Elliott isn’t bulletproof. Both of his losses came via TKO in 2020 and 2021, hinting at a suspect chin when caught clean. His unorthodox style, while dazzling, can leave openings for disciplined grapplers to exploit. Elliott’s confidence borders on cockiness, but his fight IQ keeps him grounded. His height (6’0”) and 72-inch reach give him a slight edge over Ko, and his ability to mix striking with grappling makes him a nightmare to gameplan for. If he stays composed and avoids early firefights, Elliott’s in prime position to keep his streak alive.

Prediction: Seokhyeon Ko vs. Oban Elliott

This welterweight tilt is a classic striker-grappler showdown with a twist—both fighters can do a bit of everything, and both have been slept before. Elliott’s edge lies in his versatility and current form. His high strike accuracy and unorthodox angles could frustrate Ko’s forward pressure, especially if he peppers the South Korean with jabs and low kicks to disrupt his rhythm. Elliott’s clinch work, where he lands vicious knees, might neutralize Ko’s takedown attempts, forcing the fight to stay standing where the Welshman thrives. If Elliott drags this into the later rounds, his cardio and adaptability could see him outpoint Ko for a decision, likely mixing in some ground control to sway the judges.

But don’t count Ko out. His sambo base gives him a wrestling edge, and if he can chain takedowns from the clinch, he could grind Elliott down on the mat. Ko’s leg kicks are a real weapon—Elliott’s never faced someone who targets the calves with such ferocity, and a compromised base could limit the Welshman’s mobility. If Ko catches Elliott with a clean hook during one of his spinning attacks, we could see an upset TKO, especially given both fighters’ history of being dropped. The X-factor here is Ko’s debut jitters; fighting in Baku’s raucous Crystal Hall against a seasoned UFC foe is a big step up. An interesting tidbit: Elliott’s recent TKO win earned him a $50,000 bonus, signaling he’s peaking, while Ko’s DWCS performance showed he’s ready for the big stage. Expect a chess match early, with Elliott pulling ahead late unless Ko lands a bomb.

Metric	Seokhyeon Ko	Oban Elliott
Age	31	27
Height	5’10”	6’0”
Reach	71”	72”
Record	11-2	12-2
Betting Odds	+310	-395

Our Prediction: Oban Elliott wins by unanimous decision.

Elliott by Decision (-150): His control and output make this the safest bet.
Fight Goes the Distance (-120): Both fighters are durable, and Elliott’s style leans toward points.
Ko by KO/TKO (+600): A long shot, but his power could catch Elliott if he gets reckless.