Contemporary off powerful losses, Moicano and Korean Zombie purpose to maneuver ahead
The UFC opened a 130,000-square-foot occasions middle this week in Las Vegas. President Dana White is so pleased with the ability he is referred to it as “the way forward for preventing.”
The promotion may have chosen something to adorn the partitions of its new complicated. Paintings, pictures, memorabilia. The choices had been limitless.
So far as historic items go, nevertheless, there actually is not that a lot on show. There are signed coaches’ jerseys from each season of “The Final Fighter” actuality sequence. After which there’s the canvas that was used contained in the Octagon through the UFC’s 25th anniversary occasion final November in Denver. That was the canvas on which Chan Sung Jung — in any other case often known as “The Korean Zombie” — fell sufferer to arguably the best knockout in MMA historical past.
The UFC Struggle Evening predominant occasion on Saturday options ranked featherweights Renato Moicano and Chan Sung Jung. Count on an action-packed bout, as each Moicano and “The Korean Zombie” prefer to let their palms fly.
UFC Struggle Evening: Moicano vs. ‘The Korean Zombie’
• Saturday, Greenville, S.C.
• Prelims: ESPN2/ESPN Deportes four p.m. ET
• Principal card: ESPN+ 7 p.m. ET
Subscribe to ESPN+ to get: unique reside UFC occasions, weigh-ins and extra; Ariel and the Dangerous Man; Dana White’s Contender Sequence; and extra unique MMA content material.
Although Jung misplaced that struggle, one may suppose he’d think about it an honor for the UFC to characteristic a chunk of his profession so prominently. However Jung has made it clear he’s ashamed of what occurred to him on that canvas. He was one second away from defeating Yair Rodriguez in a five-round battle when he was knocked out chilly by a no-look, behind-the-back elbow.
Jung (14-5) returns to the Octagon on Saturday for the primary time since that catastrophic loss. He’ll face Renato Moicano in the principle occasion of UFC Struggle Evening in Greenville, South Carolina.
Moicano (13-2-1) can be searching for a type of redemption as properly. The 30-year-old Brazilian is coming off a TKO loss to Jose Aldo in February. Had Moicano received that bout, he would have virtually actually obtained the following 145-pound title shot.
This predominant occasion is unlikely to find out a featherweight title challenger, but it surely nonetheless options two of the highest males within the division, seeking to bounce again from latest disappointment.
A glance again
ELBOW OW — Chan Sung Jung was on the scene for one of the well timed and artistic KOs in UFC historical past final November. Sadly for him, Jung was on the receiving finish of the no-look elbow from Yair Rodriguez that ended their struggle at four:59 of Spherical 5. Ron Chenoy/USA In the present day Sports activities
By the numbers
2: Rear-naked choke wins for Moicano, tied for second-most in UFC historical past amongst featherweights.
Zero: Submission losses for Jung amongst his 19 skilled fights, which embrace three losses by KO and two by choice.
7-Zero-1: Moicano’s report in fights which have gone to choice. His two profession losses: one by KO, one by submission.
5: Consecutive predominant occasions for Jung.
5.6: Strikes landed per minute by Moicano, per UFC Stats. It is the fifth-highest amongst lively featherweights.
Supply: ESPN Stats & Data
ESPN Stats & Data
5 vs. 5
Renato Moicano’s most up-to-date outcomes
Chan Sung Jung’s most up-to-date outcomes
Combating phrases
“He is a tricky man. He isn’t properly ranked as a result of he did not struggle a lot for the previous three years, however he is powerful. I at all times ask the UFC for one of the best fighters, and I believe he’ll assist me get extra recognition. Everybody is aware of “The Korean Zombie.” He has this cool nickname, he has this aggressive fashion, and this struggle is a candidate for struggle of the evening, even struggle of the yr. That is what I need. I need to placed on a present.” — Renato Moicano, chatting with the Brazilian outlet Combate (by way of Bloody Elbow)
Brett Okamoto’s decide
Jung will give Moicano a lot to consider on the toes, and I consider he may have his share of moments on this five-round struggle. However one thing tells me Moicano will get again on monitor.
Moicano by way of third-round TKO.
What to look at for (past the principle occasion)
Marvel who’ll be lacking
The UFC is bringing the fights to Greenville, and Greenville’s finest fighter won’t be participating.
Stephen Thompson is from close by Simpsonville, which seems like a Matt Groening creation however is definitely a city about 14 miles from Bon Secours Wellness Enviornment. “Wonderboy” would have been a pure for this card, however he suffered a brutal knockout loss in March and was unable to be cleared for full-contact coaching in time to be a part of his hometown occasion.
“It is disappointing,” the often glass-half-full Thompson informed The Greenville Information. “It truly is disappointing.”
Twists within the street to his debut
Deron Winn has had simply 5 skilled fights, however he brings into his UFC debut a flashy pedigree.
The 30-year-old mild heavyweight, a three-time All-American wrestler, is a coaching associate of heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. He has one Bellator win beneath his belt, however Winn’s most notable efficiency was a unanimous choice win over former UFC fighter Tom Lawlor on the undercard of November’s Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz III.
Now the unbeaten Winn is within the large present, but it surely hasn’t been simple for him to get a struggle. He’ll face UFC returnee Eric Spicely, the third man matched up with Winn after bookings with Bruno Silva and Markus Perez fell by.
Again after virtually 5 years …
Zero:39
Ariel Helwani explains why he is excited to see Matt Wiman return to the Octagon on Saturday at UFC Struggle Evening: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie.
Nickname of the evening
Sorry to be so apparent by going with a predominant eventer, however did you actually suppose anybody in Greenville — or in all the state of South Carolina — goes to have a nickname as superior (and aptly descriptive) as “The Korean Zombie”?
Yep, even on a card that additionally options “Violent Bob Ross” — a.okay.a. Luis Pena — Chan Sung Jung continues to be the person … as a lot as a zombie can nonetheless be thought-about a person.