Brian Ortega vs ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung is one of the most hotly anticipated fights on the October cards. This featherweight bout is brewed with real animosity, as Ortega slapped TKZ’s translator Jay Park at UFC 248. However, their fight in the octagon will serve as a beef ender.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Ortega will have an added disadvantage on Fight Night as his longest-tenured coach, Rener Gracie, cannot corner him against Jung. This is because he tested positive for COVID a month ago. The UFC hasn’t cleared Gracie to go to Fight Island, despite his follow-up tests returning negative.
“At first, Brian thought I was joking, because I tested negative already twice in the last two weeks. And I wasn’t. Of course, he’s super bummed. But I assured him, I said, ‘Brian, luckily this skill set that I bring to the table and that I coached you for over 15 years in is the most ingrained in you of all your skill sets in fighting. It’s the one that you least need coaching on.’ So, if anyone has to stay behind, it should be me.”
Can Brian Ortega pull off a win without Gracie?
Ortega is one hell of a competitor, but so is ‘TKZ’. Both men are looking to get another shot at the featherweight championship. With Max Holloway out of the immediate title picture, the winner of this fight may get the next shot at Alexander Volkanovski and his belt.
‘The Korean Zombie’ is coming off two wins, and a last-second KO loss to Yair Rodriguez. He hasn’t lost much of a step since his title challenge against Jose Aldo at UFC 163, but he spent years away serving in the South Korean military. However, his commitment to fighting has kept him strong still.
Ortega was one of the most exciting featherweight fighters in recent memory. However, ‘T-City’ last fought two years ago in one of the most one-sided title losses when he lost to ‘Blessed’. Can Ortega beat ‘TKZ’ whilst coming off a two-year layoff and without his most trusted coach?
