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The Korean Zombie To Retire After Max Holloway Fight Under One Condition

Published 08/25/2023, 10:42 AM EDT

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Chan Sung Jung terrorized the featherweights for almost 12 years with his forward pressure and ability to take blows on the chin. Further, his well-rounded striking and grappling game puts the opponents in a conundrum. However, the question lingers. How long will ‘The Korean Zombie’ keep fighting?

The 36-year-old fighter revealed his retirement plan as he appeared on UFC Fight Night 225’s official press conference. Notably, he is coming off a one-year layoff, and his last fight came against Alexander Volkanovski in a losing cause. While his skills as a fighter are never in doubt, it is the South Korean fighter’s sporadic appearances that are a cause for concern. In recent years, he has been fighting on a fight-a-year policy. How does his fight against Max Holloway fit into his bigger vision?

The Korean Zombie reveals retirement depends on one crucial factor

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When asked whether the victory against ‘Blessed’ inserts him into the title conversation, the MMA fighter had a practical response. He acknowledged the uncertainty of his fighting career and mentioned that his future hinges on his performance. The featherweight fighter is taking it one fight at a time and might have a hard look at himself if he turns in a poor performance.

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The 17-7 record holder said, “I’m not really sure what’s going to happen. It’s very difficult for a fighter to acknowledge that one’s career has ended. I’ll have to see how well I fight in the octagon. I’ll have to assess myself on this fight and then decide what’s going on next.”

However, he is still upbeat about his chances against the Hawaiian fighter, who is saddened over the recent developments on Maui Island. In the same conversation, Jung announced he was going into the fight with a clear winning mindset. He had fought two greats in the division, Jose Aldo and Alexander Volkanovski, and was ready to do it against Holloway.

Chan Sung Jung has a grim prediction for Max Holloway

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Jung stated, “I respect Max, but just because I respect him does not mean I’m going to go easy on him. I expect to win this fight. I’m going to go hard on him. It’s going to be a fun fight.”

USA Today via Reuters

Holloway hasn’t dropped any fight in the 145-lbs division to anyone except ‘The Great’ in almost a decade. After losing his featherweight crown, he has emerged as the last hurdle between the surging contenders and the champion. Therefore, a win against Holloway can put ‘The Korean Zombie’ into the title conversation. He and Holloway square off on August 26 at UFC on ESPN 52 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.

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What do you think of these comments by The Korean Zombie? Do you believe the time is ripe for him to hang up his MMA gloves? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: Jorge Masvidal Wins the Race Against Mike Tyson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Triple H to Become Dwayne Johnson’s Successor at UFC 291 for the BMF Title

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Written by:

Rohit Lohan

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Rohit Lohan is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports, with a passion for the sport that has spanned over a decade. His fascination with MMA stems from the thrill of knockouts, and he strives to bring that same level of excitement to his writing. Rohit's love for gripping stories is reflected in his articles, where he masterfully weaves together the latest news with compelling narratives.
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Edited by:

Abhishek Das