Danh Quoc, born in 2004 and standing at 1.7 m tall, is two years younger and 2 cm shorter than Trung Hieu. However, Quoc boasts a superior LION Championship (LC) record of two wins and one loss, compared to his older opponent's one win and one loss.

Before the fight, Quoc confidently predicted a 90% chance of victory. "I will finish the fight cleanly, beautifully, and decisively," he declared.

Danh Quoc (red shorts) lands a spinning back kick to Trung Hieu's liver for a knockout victory in the 60kg MMA Pro LION Championship 24 at Tay Ho Stadium, Hanoi, on the evening of 12/7/2025. Photo: LC

Stepping into the octagon at Tay Ho Stadium in Hanoi on the evening of 12/7, Quoc needed only 23 seconds to end the fight with his very first strike. After cornering his opponent, he unleashed a spinning back kick that landed squarely on Trung Hieu's liver.

Trung Hieu immediately grimaced, simultaneously raising his hand in surrender and collapsing to the canvas. The referee swiftly intervened, stopping Quoc from further engagement and declaring the match over. Medical personnel attended to Trung Hieu, who was then stretchered out of the octagon and taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Quoc celebrated his victory with Ronaldo's signature "Siu" celebration, followed by a "billionaire walk" around the ring, a swagger popularized by UFC star Conor McGregor, originating from Vince McMahon. It's a confident, almost arrogant strut, leaning back slightly with a loose swing of the arms.

"I was prepared for a three-round fight, but I followed my coach's instructions to go for an early finish," Quoc explained after the match. "I said I had a 90% chance of winning. The other 10% was to psychologically intimidate my opponent."

Danh Quoc celebrates his victory over Dinh Trung Hieu. Photo: LC

Quoc's goal is to become the LION 60kg champion. The title was previously held by Robson Oliveira, but the Brazilian relinquished it in June due to injury. The new champion will likely be determined in a match between Tran Ngoc Luong and Le Van Tuan, scheduled for August.

Quoc also aims to avenge his loss to Bui Truong Sinh, who defeated him by technical knockout in the 2023 Dragon Fight League final. "Remember to train hard, Truong Sinh. I'm back," Quoc warned.

Quoc began his professional MMA career in 2023. Despite his limited record, he is considered a promising young fighter due to his improving technique, audacious fighting style, and outspoken, McGregor-esque personality.

At the weigh-in on 11/7, Quoc sported a suit and Joker-inspired makeup, reminiscent of the American comic book villain. Earlier this year, he made controversial remarks about several boxers during a public event. Quoc later admitted that he sought to attract attention and gain recognition within the Vietnamese martial arts community.

Conor McGregor has not competed since breaking his ankle and losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The Irish fighter holds a record of 22 wins and six losses. He has held both the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously.

McGregor is the UFC's pay-per-view king, featuring in five of the highest-grossing events. In 2021, Forbes ranked the 35-year-old as the world's highest-paid athlete, earning USD 180 million. He also appeared on the list in 2018, earning USD 99 million and ranking 4th.

While McGregor's career is primarily defined by MMA, his fight against Floyd "Money" Mayweather in August 2017 elevated him to superstardom. Although McGregor lost to the American boxer, he earned USD 100 million from the spectacle-heavy bout.

Trung Thu