Chan Sung Jung – also known as The Korean Zombie – is no stranger to UFC main events. In fact, he’s been in that position so many times that he says he’s ready for a change. But that won’t come on Saturday night, when he takes on Dan Ige in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card from the Apex facility in Las Vegas.
Jung will make his eighth straight main event appearance, a sign that the UFC sees the Korean as a major draw.
Jung wanted three-round fight
But Jung (16-6) has enjoyed mixed results in that spotlight. Since returning to the Octagon in 2017 after losing to Jose Aldo for the featherweight title in 2013, Jung has gone 3-2 in his main event appearances. Most recently, he lost a unanimous decision to Brian Ortega last October.
That made Jung ask for a change, but the UFC didn’t budge.
“I’ve been asking for a co-main event to do three rounds,†Jung told MMA Junkie on Wednesday, via an interpreter. “They didn’t give it to me. I was a little bit sad about that. There’s also an upside to being a main event. You get a lot more attention, a little bit more money and stuff like that. I definitely wanted to do a three-rounder.â€
Instead, Jung gets another main event appearance, this time against Ige (15-3). The 29-year-old American has won seven of his last eight fights, including a March win over Gavin Tucker in which Ige scored a knockout in just 22 seconds.
Action fighters should produce fireworks
Ige has been calling out Jung for over a year now. He wants a war, and says that The Korean Zombie is the man to provide it.
“Honestly, from day one, I’ve been preparing for this fight like I’m embracing zombie apocalypse mentality,†Ige told MMA Fighting. “He’s been through a lot of wars, he can take punishment. But there’s a difference, and I really think there’s a difference in my power and the way I can touch someone and put them out.â€
| Korean Zombie vs. Ige Odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | |
| Chan Sung Jung: +108 | Dan Ige: -126 |
| Method of Victory | |
| Jung by KO/TKO: +300 | Ige by KO/TKO: +380 |
| Jung by Submission: +1000 | Ige by Submission: +1000 |
| Jung by Decision: +370 | Ige by Decision: +220 |
| Draw: +5000 | |
FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Ige as the -126 favorite over Jung (+108) in Saturday’s fight. While both fighters love to counterattack, it shouldn’t take long before the two engage in some furious exchanges. Still, while FanDuel rates Jung’s best route to victory as a knockout (+300), it gives Ige +220 odds of winning by decision after the full five rounds.
Coming into the fight, both men offer up similar styles, sizes, and profiles. But while Jung is willing to praise his opponent, he believes that he has the edge, especially in a longer fight.
“We are similar in a lot of ways. He’s well-rounded, he loves to brawl and he’s become a crowd favorite,†Jung told Yahoo Sports. “I feel I am a better finisher and I have the edge in cardio.â€
