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Jeka Asparido Saragih (born (1995-01-01)1 January 1995) is an Indonesian mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he became the first person from Indonesia to qualify for the final of Road to UFC Season 1, after defeating Ki Won Bin in the semifinal by knockout. He is the first Indonesian fighter to sign with the UFC.
Background
Jeka was born in Bah Pasunsang, Raya, Simalungun, North Sumatra. He is a descendant of the Batak Simalungun. Jeka began his martial arts career by starting wushu in 2013 and won the national championship in Yogyakarta and had the opportunity to represent North Sumatra in the title of National Sports Week.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Despite his busy schedule at work, Jeka continued to hone his martial arts skills, until finally becoming an apprentice at Yakop Sutjipto's Batam Fighter Club (BFC) gym. Jeka received an offer from the owner of BFC to take part in the One Pride Championship , starting his career in the lightweight division.
In April 2017, Jeka won the One Pride Lightweight championship, after successfully defeating the reigning champion, Ngapdi Mulidy, by TKO in the first round. He would go on to defend his title 4 times, before eventually losing it in February 2020, when he was submitted in the 4th round by Angga Hans via rear naked choke. He would rebound with two straight victories,before winning the Interim Lightweight Championship against Hatoropan Simbolon via second round TKO stoppage.
Road to UFC
Saragih faced Pawan Maan Singh in the Quarter-Finals of the Lightweight tournament on June 9, 2022 in Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 2. He won the bout in the third round, knocking out Singh with a spinning back fist.
Saragih faced Ki Won Bin in the Semi-Finals of the Lightweight tournament on October 23, 2022 at Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 5. He won the bout in the first round, knocking out Bin.
In the finals of the tournament, Saragih faced Anshul Jubli on February 4, 2023 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak. He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Saragih was scheduled to face Jesse Butleron November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. However, Butler withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Charlie Campbell. With Campbell also out of the fight, Saragih was next booked against Lucas Alexander. At the weigh-ins, Alexander weighed in at 148 pounds, two pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight with Alexander being fined 20% of his purse which went to Saragih. Saragih won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Personal life
In 2017, Jeka Saragih won the championship for the One Pride MMA competition for the 70 kg class in 2017. In 2018, he was also asked to carry the Asian Games torch around North Sumatra.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time)
- One Pride MMA
- OPMMA Lightweight Championship (One time)
- Four successful title defenses
- Interim OPMMA Lightweight Championship (One time)
- OPMMA Lightweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 17 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 4 | 2 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 14–3 | Lucas Alexander | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | November 18, 2023 | 1 | 1:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight debut; Alexander missed weight (148 lb). Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 13–3 | Anshul Jubli | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak | February 4, 2023 | 2 | 3:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Road to UFC Season 1 Lightweight tournament final. |
| Win | 13–2 | Bin Ki-won | KO (punch) | Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 5 | October 23, 2022 | 1 | 2:41 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Road to UFC Season 1 Lightweight tournament semifinal. |
| Win | 12–2 | Pawan Maan Singh | KO (spinning backfist) | Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 2 | June 9, 2022 | 3 | 2:24 | Kallang, Singapore | Road to UFC Season 1 Lightweight tournament quarterfinal. |
| Win | 11–2 | Hatoropan Simbolon | TKO (punch) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 58 | May 21, 2022 | 2 | 1:04 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Won the interim OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–2 | Rama Sabturi | Decision (unanimous) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 56 | February 12, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Win | 9–2 | Agung Maulana | TKO (punches and elbows) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 40 | December 19, 2020 | 1 | 2:55 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Loss | 8–2 | Angga Hans | Submission (rear-naked choke) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 36 | February 15, 2020 | 4 | 4:23 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Lost the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Mhar John Manahan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 32 | September 21, 2019 | 1 | 3:12 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Win | 7–1 | Hendrik Tarigan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 30 | July 27, 2019 | 1 | 1:11 | Senayan, Indonesia | Defended the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1 | Hatoropan Simbolon | TKO (submission to elbows) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 25 | December 1, 2018 | 2 | 4:17 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | Defended the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Mohammad Fuad | TKO (leg kicks) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 19 | May 5, 2018 | 1 | 4:01 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | Defended the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–1 | Kevin Sulistio | Submission (rear-naked choke) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 13 | October 7, 2017 | 3 | 3:07 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | Defended the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–1 | Ngabdi Mulyadi | TKO (punches) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 9 | April 15, 2017 | 1 | 2:40 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | Won the OPMMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–1 | Victor Johanis | TKO (elbows and punches) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 6 | November 5, 2016 | 2 | 1:45 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | |
| Win | 1–1 | Rizki Muyla | Submission (keylock) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 5 | October 8, 2016 | 1 | 1:25 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Kevin Sulistio | Submission (kimura) | One Pride MMA Fight Night 4 | September 10, 2016 | 1 | 2:06 | Kelapa Gading, Indonesia | Lightweight debut. |