Max Holloway vs Chan Sung Jung 8/26/2023 – The headline event of UFC on ESPN 52, scheduled to take place in Kallang, Singapore on Saturday, August 26, 2023, will feature an intense featherweight bout between Max Holloway and Jung Chan-sung, famously known as The Korean Zombie.
Max Holloway (24-7) returns to the Octagon after a gap of about four months, following his impressive victory over Arnold Allen. This time around, he is set to face off against The Korean Zombie (17-7) in a showdown that could determine which of them will earn another opportunity to contend for the UFC Featherweight championship. It’s worth recalling that both Holloway and Jung Chan-sung went head-to-head against Alexander Volkanovski for the 145-pound title in the previous year, but both came up short.
Notably, Holloway engaged in three bouts against Volk, experiencing defeats on all occasions by decision. Despite this, he showcased remarkable takedown defense skills during those matches. While Alexander Volkanovski is renowned for his strong wrestling abilities within the UFC, he surprisingly failed to execute a single takedown in two of the three bouts against Holloway. In contrast, when he faced The Korean Zombie, Volkanovski successfully executed four takedowns.
Predicting the favored contender in the upcoming UFC Singapore event requires little effort. Bookmakers have placed strong support behind Holloway this weekend, with odds of -725 on the moneyline, implying a high likelihood of victory at 87.9%.
Tale of the Tape
Max Holloway vs Chan Sung Jung
Record: 24-7 17-7
Height: 5’11” 5’7”
Reach: 69” 72”
Weight: 146 lbs 145 lbs
Age: 31 36
Fighting Stance: Orthodox — Orthodox
Knockouts: 10 6
Holloway stands as one of the most formidable strikers the UFC has ever witnessed, a reputation solidified by his featherweight championship reign marked by three successful defenses. Despite it being close to four years since his title reign, the potency of “Blessed” remains undiminished.
At 31, this seasoned fighter boasts an impressive 3 wins out of his last 4 matches. Notable triumphs over Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodriguez, and Arnold Allen underscore his ongoing dominance. Furthermore, Holloway has secured four consecutive victories against opponents other than Alexander Volkanovski, creating anticipation to see if this streak persists on the international stage. Holloway’s striking prowess is reflected in his average of 7.16 significant strikes per minute, which happens to be the highest in the UFC Featherweight Division. An even more astonishing feat is that he holds the record for the most significant strikes landed in the history of this promotion, with a staggering total of 3,122 strikes over his more than 11-year-long UFC career.
Interestingly, Jung Chan-sung, also known as The Korean Zombie, did not experience defeat at the hands of Alexander Volkanovski through submission; instead, it was a technical knockout that brought about his loss. This occurrence marks the fourth time he’s suffered defeat by KO/TKO. This particular fact might be a source of concern for the South Korean fighter, especially as he prepares to face one of the all-time greatest strikers in the realm of mixed martial arts.
Jung’s Uphill Struggle Against a Precision Striker
After a promising initiation marked by a 3-0 record in his UFC career, Jung’s performance has oscillated, leading him to a 4-4 standing in his most recent eight fights. Within this period, he has only secured consecutive victories once, underscoring his challenge to capitalize on any gained momentum.
What is particularly concerning is that despite Korean Zombie’s notable resilience, he has suffered knockouts on three occasions within his last eight fights. This includes his most recent encounter with Volkanovski in April 2022, where he experienced a TKO loss in the fourth round.
As Jung prepares for the impending battle this weekend, he must brace himself for another potential barrage. Holloway boasts an astonishing average of 7.16 significant strikes per minute and a 47% accuracy rate. While Korean Zombie demonstrates a 52% strike defense rate, it’s evident that he no longer absorbs strikes as effortlessly as he once did.
In terms of grappling, Jung exhibits slightly superior offensive statistics. Nonetheless, Holloway’s impressive 84% takedown defense is poised to aid him in maintaining his standing position and avoiding takedowns.
UFC Singapore: Max Holloway Betting Trends
- In 18 prior contests, Holloway has won 16 straight decisions as the favorite.
- The average length of a match for Holloway is 13:02.
- In each of Holloway’s last eight matches, extra time was required.
- Holloway has a 4-4 straight-up record in his previous eight fights.
- With a 47% accuracy rate, Holloway averages 7.16 meaningful strikes each minute.
UFC Singapore: Chan Sung Jung
- The Korean Zombie had a 4-3 record in seven prior matches as the underdog.
- The average fight in Korean Zombie lasts 10:21.
- Only two of the previous 12 battles for Korean Zombie went the distance.
- Korean Zombie has a 4-4 straight-up record in his previous eight fights.
- With a 42% accuracy rate, Korean Zombie averages 3.97 major strikes every minute.
Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie Prediction
Max Holloway vs Chan Sung Jung: Max Holloway should have no problems beating The Korean Zombie on August 26. He’s a much better striker than Jung Chan-sung and has fantastic TD defense, which should prevent his opponent from landing any TDs.
Even though an upset could happen, it won’t. Holloway is one of the top featherweights of all-time and is leagues above Jung even if the consistency hasn’t been there lately. Korean Zombie won’t be able to handle the former champion’s barrage, ultimately, bringing “Blessed” one step closer to another title bout.
Regarding the best bet, take Holloway winning by KO/TKO. Although the odds aren’t available yet for a knockout win, Holloway is one of the most dangerous strikers and now faces Jung, who’s been knocked out thrice in his last eight fights.
Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore
Date: Saturday, Aug 26, 2023
Main Card: 8:00 AM ET
Prelims: 5:00 AM ET
Watch on: ESPN+ and the UFC Fight Pass.
Odds: Max Holloway -725, Chan Sung Jung +525
