UFC Fight Night – Holloway Vs The Korean Zombie
The chaotic main event between Max Holloway and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung made for an easy selection for Fight of the Night. The featherweights traded shots on the feet throughout the majority of the fight.
Holloway is still working his way up to a title shot at 145 pounds, but he will face an uphill battle against a man with three straight victories over Alexander Volkanovski.
Fight Predictions
The UFC heads to Singapore for an early morning fight card, with a high-profile featherweight clash featuring former champion Max Holloway taking on fan-favorite Chan Sung Jung in the main event. Holloway is a massive favorite in this fight, but he will have to work hard to secure the win. Jung is a skilled striker with solid takedown defense, and he can definitely give Holloway a run for his money in this fight.
However, Holloway has a big advantage in every department, including cardio and striking output. He has one of the best chins in the sport, and his ability to switch between stances and use quick in-and-out movements should make him difficult for Jung to hit. In addition, Holloway has an outstanding kicking game and will be able to capitalize on any mistakes Jung makes.
Jung, on the other hand, is 36 years old and is well past his prime. He has won only one fight since 2019, and he lost his most recent bout by TKO to Alexander Volkanovski. He has a good skill set, but he isn’t as durable as he once was and another loss here would likely signal the end of his fighting career.
Both fighters have some impressive wins on their resumes, but they are vastly different in style. Holloway is a more dynamic striker who can mix in groundwork and has a five-inch reach advantage over Jung. He is also very fast, and he can pick apart Jung’s defensive structure in the opening rounds.
Despite the fact that Jung has some decent submission skills, he doesn’t have the power to hurt Holloway. He has struggled to finish his opponents in the past, and he is no match for Holloway’s knockout power.
Holloway will have a chance to send a message to Jung in the second half of the fight, and he should eventually finish the fight with a KO/TKO. Unless Jung can change his style, this looks like a long night for the Korean Zombie. Then again, he may decide to retire after this fight, and that wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Fight Analysis
Two featherweight fan favorites clash in this week’s UFC Fight Night main event from Singapore. Max Holloway has a signature style of crazy volume and insane durability that makes him one of the most fun fighters in the sport to watch; he genuinely drowns opponents with punches like few others can. Nevertheless, he also has a slick submission game that he uses to take down opponents when necessary. His opponent here, Chan Sung Jung, is a former UFC title challenger who returns off an ugly loss to Alexander Volkanovski where he looked a step behind his prime.
This matchup is a tough test for Jung, who will face a fighter with an incomparable combination of striking and grappling skills. Holloway averages 7.16 significant strikes landed per minute in the octagon and defends against 84 percent of the takedown attempts he faces. He is a legitimate contender for the 145-pound crown.
On the other hand, Jung has a 17-7 MMA record with six KO/TKO wins and seven submissions in his 11 UFC fights. Despite losing two years of his prime to military service in his home country, the 36-year-old veteran still has a wealth of experience in this octagon and possesses an extremely well-rounded skill set.
It’s worth noting that he is one of the few fighters to pull off a heel hook submission in the UFC (against Dennis Bermudez). He’s also known for his superior wrestling and clinch work. Jung will have to be able to survive a scramble or front choke from Holloway in order to get this win.
The betting odds are heavily in favor of Holloway. He enters this bout as a -800 favorite at the sportsbook, meaning that a $100 wager on him will yield a $800 profit. Meanwhile, Jung is a +550 underdog with the sportsbook. This is a classic matchup of power versus durability and Jung’s experience might just be enough to derail the Hawaiian’s plans for an immediate return to the top of the division.
Fight Statistics
The UFC returns to the Lion City with an incredible fight between two longtime elite featherweights. Max “Blessed” Holloway, who is ranked #1 in the division, looks to rebound from his lopsided loss to Arnold Allen with a victory over Chan Sung Jung.
Jung, who is ranked #8, hasn’t fought since an ugly loss to Alexander Volkanovski in April of 2021. While he was able to absorb a ton of damage, Jung’s legendary durability eventually gave out and he lost via TKO in round four.
Blessed is a true striker who knows how to put together striking clinics. He’s got a great combination of elite movement and incredible volume, averaging a whopping 7.16 significant strikes per minute. He has a strong grappling game, too, having scored several submission victories in his career. The Hawaiian’s style is perfect for this fight, as he can pick apart Jung’s hitstable chin from distance and then finish the fight with his powerful right hand.
Holloway’s biggest problem will be dealing with Jung’s unrelenting aggression. Jung is one of the hardest hitters in the featherweight division and has earned his nickname because of his ability to keep marching forward and throwing punches, even when his opponents are trying to take him down. Jung also has an underrated ground game, having snagged eight submission wins in his career.
This isn’t the first time that Jung has faced a top contender in his career. He was scheduled to face Jose Aldo in August 2013 but had to withdraw due to a dislocated shoulder. He returned in 2017, scoring a knockout win over Dennis Bermudez and another TKO against Frankie Edgar, earning Performance of the Night bonuses both times.
The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN+ in the United States and BT Sport in the UK. Preliminary action kicks off at 5am ET / 2am PT. The main event is expected to start at approximately 8am ET / 3pm BST. For more information, click here. The UFC is known for their spectacular main events, and this one is sure to be no exception.
Fight Picks
Max Holloway and Chan Sung Jung will fight toe-to-toe in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Singapore. It’s a matchup of two fighters that have earned adoration from fans with their dogged fighting style and outstanding boxing skills.
Holloway is a top-10 featherweight and the former champion, but three losses to Alexander Volkanovski have trapped him outside the title picture. He needs a win in this fight to retain his status as one of the top 145-pound fighters in the world.
While Holloway is a big favorite on the sportsbooks, the oddsmakers think this could be a close and entertaining fight. They have Holloway at -800, making The Korean Zombie the sizable underdog at +550.
Jung is a veteran who has been around for quite some time in the MMA game, and he’s shown that he’s capable of competing with the best the sport has to offer on several occasions. He has a great takedown defense and has been able to finish a number of his opponents with his grappling prowess. However, he doesn’t have the same kind of striking attack that Holloway does.
The Korean Zombie has a few nice submissions, but his best weapon is his grappling. He’s a good grappler who can throw a variety of submissions and has decent control. He’s also a very proficient judoka, with solid clinch work and the ability to execute submission finishes.
As for the striking, The Korean Zombie has a few impressive knockouts on his resume but isn’t as good as some of his previous opponents in that department. He does have some speed and timing, but it’s difficult to imagine him being able to keep up with Holloway in this fight.
Overall, I see The Korean Zombie getting taken down in this fight. He doesn’t have the same kind of striker that some of his past opponents had, and he’s not as dangerous a grappler. He’ll need to make some serious adjustments if he hopes to pull off this upset. If he can’t do that, then this will be another disappointing performance for him.
