Terrance Saeteurn’s Long-Awaited UFC Moment Arrives

 

Terrance Saeteurn’s Long-Awaited UFC Moment Arrives

Flyweight contender Terrance Saeteurn is set to make his UFC debut against Nyamjargal Tumendemberel in the co-main event of the Road to UFC Season 4 semifinals in Shanghai—a milestone that came with little warning and a lot of heart.

Saeteurn can’t quite recall what he was doing when the life-changing call came—maybe training, maybe eating breakfast—but he certainly wasn’t expecting the UFC to reach out with a last-minute offer to fight in China.

“I had a feeling something might be brewing, so I stayed ready,” he said with a laugh. “I figured if it happens, great. If not, I’ll be prepared when it does.”

With an 8-1 record and five finishes, the 30-year-old Californian was on the UFC’s radar. Still, the moment felt surreal for someone who’s been chasing this dream since he was nine years old.

“I’ve been grinding for nearly a decade, and I’ve wanted this since I was a kid,” Saeteurn said. “It’s wild to think it’s finally happening.”

His passion for MMA was sparked by his Uncle Johnny, who introduced him to wrestling and martial arts when he was just a boy. Despite initial hesitation, Saeteurn took the plunge—and never looked back.

“I remember my first wrestling practice like it was yesterday. I thought, ‘This is the coolest thing ever.’ Then I watched my first UFC fight with my uncle and knew—this is what I want to do.”

He had his first amateur bout at 23 and turned pro just a few years later under Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat banner. Now, he’s stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage—even if his grandparents aren’t entirely on board.

“They’re old-school, super traditional,” he explained. “They think I should get a stable job and save money. But they know I love this, and they just want me to be safe.”

Nicknamed “Wrong Turn,” Saeteurn seems to have made all the right moves. He’s earned his shot, landed in the UFC, and is now heading to Shanghai for the fight of his life.

“I never cared about fame,” he said. “I just want to do what I love, earn a living, and give my family some financial stability. We didn’t grow up wealthy, but we were rich in love. I’ve always had what I needed—and that’s more than enough.”

As he reflects on his journey, Saeteurn knows his younger self would be proud.

“Twenty-one years later, I’m a UFC fighter at 30. And I know that nine-year-old me would be smiling at everything I’ve accomplished.”