Domus 28 Debut
Former professional baseball pitcher Seo Eui-tae made his mixed martial arts debut at Domus 28, defeating singer-turned-fighter Heo Jae-hyok by unanimous decision on Nov. 7, 2026, in Seoul’s Gangnam district, according to mk.co.kr.
The co-main event at the Gangnam-gu venue pitted the 29-year-old newcomer against the 41-year-old Road FC competitor in an openweight bout scheduled for two five-minute rounds. The judges scored the contest cleanly in favor of Seo, handing the 196-centimeter, 120-kilogram debutant his first professional victory.
Baseball Diamond to MMA Cage
Seo entered the sport after a professional baseball career that spanned several KBO League organizations. Selected by the KT Wiz in the second round of the 2016 rookie draft, he later spent time with the Heroes and the NC Dinos, making 12 total appearances in the top-tier league.
Though he earned the Real Glove Future League best pitcher award for the NC Dinos’ second-tier squad in 2023, he stepped away from baseball following the 2025 season. Reporters and industry observers noted his unusual physical strength and frame during his transition into combat sports.
Ending a Four-Fight Win Streak
Heo entered the cage carrying a four-fight winning streak accumulated since October 2025 across professional and 100-second tournament bouts.
The loss halted Heo’s momentum after 378 days of unblemished results in his recent appearances. Speaking in his post-fight cage interview, Heo acknowledged the physical mismatch, telling mk.co.kr that he did not expect to be pushed around in the clinch to that degree.
UFC Commentator’s Assessment
Veteran combat sports broadcaster Kim Dae-hwan described Seo’s performance as a complete victory for the newcomer. Kim, a 47-year-old UFC commentator and gym owner, watched the bout from the venue and praised the 10-minute output.
Seo maintained above-average explosiveness and pacing throughout the two rounds, mixing in elbow and knee strikes that caught the commentary team’s attention. Kim remarked to mk.co.kr that he was genuinely surprised by the debutant’s technical execution and conditioning.
Seo Considers Training at Kim Dae-Hwan's Gym and Improving Grappling
Following the victory, Seo addressed reports regarding a potential joint training stint at Kim Dae-hwan’s gym, a prominent facility in Seongnam that regularly hosts international fighters such as LFA champion Alex Polizzi. Seo stated that he would gladly accept an invitation to train alongside the stable’s heavyweights.
Looking ahead, Seo outlined his technical goals in the sport, pointing to grappling position control as an area for improvement. The former pitcher named interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and Road FC titleholders Kim Tae-in and Hwang In-su among the fighters he studies as he prepares for his next appearance.
