LAS VEGAS – Dooho Choi’s UFC career will have to be put on hold not too long from now, but he’s got one goal to achieve in the meantime.

Like all male citizens in South Korea, Choi is expected to fulfil mandatory military service for approximately two years. This won’t be an octagon first; “The Korean Zombie,” Chang Sung Jung, fought former champion Jose Aldo for the 145-pound belt in August 2013 and – albeit with some help from injuries – wouldn’t return to the UFC until 2017, after serving his own term.

Choi, however, said he still has “at least another year” in the octagon before that happens. And even when it does, “The Korean Superboy” doesn’t think it will be a hindrance to his future as a fighter.

“I feel that during that time I’m in the military, I’m still going to be working on my fighting career,” Choi said through an interpreter. “So I’ll just become an even greater fighter, in my opinion.”

Before that, though, there’s one thing to get out of the way.

“I want to have a title shot,” he said.

If everything goes according to plan, Choi gets to set that in motion on Jan. 14, when he meets Jeremy Stephens in UFC Fight Night 124’s headliner, which airs Jan. 14 on FS1 from Scottrade Center in St. Louis. It’s Choi’s first fight since his first UFC loss, which stemmed from an instant classic “Fight of the Night” with Cub Swanson more than one year ago.

Choi (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was on a three-fight UFC winning streak – all via first-round knockout – before the setback. Stephens (26-14 MMA, 13-13 UFC), in turn, recently bounced back from a two-fight skid after obliterating Gilbert Melendez’s legs in route to a unanimous-decision win at UFC 215.

Despite the setback and the injury-motivated time away, 26-year-old Choi is happy with where he stands in the 145-pound division. But he’s still eager to get back to the top. And Stephens, who’s ranked above him in the official UFC rankings at featherweight, is certainly a solid way to start.

“I knew he’s a scrappy fighter, as well, and (has) powerful punches,” Choi said. “And he has a good gameplan. So I knew if we were to ever compete together – and then when I was presented this match, we would put on a good fight.”

Even with a win there, Choi will still have some catching up to do if he wants to fulfil the tight timeline for his title shot. Still, unsurprisingly, the ever-cool knockout artist remains unfazed.

“I don’t really feel stressed or pressured at all,” Choi said. “I just enjoy what I do. And I’m just going to take one fight at a time. But then my goal is to get a title shot.”

To hear more from Choi, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 124, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.