For Chan Sung Jung, anything other than first place is a failure. In his recent interview, he said his retirement decision depended on the upcoming fight with Max Holloway. So, when that happened. his retirement was inevitable at the age of 36.
Leaving his gloves in the middle of the octagon,’ The Korean Zombie’ bids farewell to his MMA career. But what is the fighter going to do next? Has this taken a toll on his mental health? What are his views on his overall career? Continue reading to find out!
Chan Sung Jung, a trailblazing South Korean athlete and two-time UFC title contender, was defeated by Max Holloway in the main event of UFC Fight Night 225 by third-round knockout. After the fight, Jung said that he was thinking about quitting. He originally wanted to be a champion when he started in the sport, not just ranked third, fourth, or fifth. He worked hard to get ready for the fight against Max Holloway and believed he could win. But since he didn’t, he feels like he might not get another chance. So, he’s considering stopping his fighting career.
The Irish rock band The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” which had long been Jung’s departure song, was played loudly in the arena after the announcement. An upset Jung was followed by the cameras as he made his way down the runway and into the locker room. After twelve fights under the promotion’s wing, Jung, 36, leaves it. In 2010, immediately before the WEC and UFC merged, Jung joined them after making appearances in Korea FC, DEEP, Sengoku, and It’s Showtime.
He lost a tough and contentious split decision against Leonard Garcia in his WEC debut, making history. The match was regarded as one of the best for the promotion. George Roop knocked out Jung, who was then added to the UFC roster. He fought Garcia again and achieved the first-ever UFC twister victory. After that, he won two more fights, finishing Dustin Poirier in an all-out struggle and knocking out Mark Hominick in seven seconds.
Jung made his first attempt to contend for a UFC championship at UFC 163 in August 2013. Due to a dislocated shoulder, he was defeated by then-champion Jose Aldo in the fourth round by TKO.
Jung served in the military as required by South Korea after his unsuccessful attempt to win the crown. Although he didn’t fight again until February 2017, he did so in spectacular fashion by dispatching Dennis Bermudez in just under three minutes.
The victory prepared him for a fight with Yair Rodriguez, which he won up until a rare spinning back elbow with one second remaining in the round cost him the match.
In his subsequent four fights, “Zombie” had a 3-1 record, defeating Brian Ortega while defeating Renato Moicano, Frankie Edgar, and Dan Ige. He was given a second chance at title gold, thanks to the productive stretch.
Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight champion, defeated Jung by fourth-round TKO at UFC 273 in April 2022. His most recent outing before Saturday’s defeat to Holloway was the one. Chan Sung Jung’s loss this Saturday night in Singapore left his global fanbase emotional. It was quite emotional for Chan also as he shed tears and placed his UFC gloves in the cage’s heart, signifying the close of his MMA journey.
What will be the fighter’s future goals considering he is still in his 30’s? Do you think his retirement decision was irrational and based more on his emotions? Do let us know in the comments section!
