Stats point out a attainable one-sided battle if Renato Moicano-Chan Sung Jung is a slugfest

The UFC featherweight division has offered a number of the most dynamic and thrilling matches within the promotion of late. On Saturday, Renato Moicano and Chan Sung Jung, referred to affectionately as “The Korean Zombie,” will look to proceed that development.

A number of statistical classes favor Moicano within the match. Nonetheless, Jung has all the time been a sport challenger. The next examines the statistical classes that would decide the UFC Struggle Evening predominant occasion winner.

Hanging differential

Moicano has a reasonably clear edge over Jung when it comes to putting differential. He lands extra and absorbs fewer on a per-minute foundation. Within the UFC, Moicano has landed 5.60 vital strikes per minute and absorbed solely three.52, which leaves him with a plus-2.07 differential. At present, there are solely three ranked featherweights with larger differentials: Zabit Magomedsharipov, Alexander Volkanovski and champion Max Holloway.

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 fingers fly.

UFC Struggle Evening: Moicano vs. ‘The Korean Zombie’
• Saturday, Greenville, S.C.
• Prelims: ESPN2/ESPN Deportes four p.m. ET
• Major card: ESPN+ 7 p.m. ET

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With a plus-Zero.31 differential, Jung finds himself beneath the common for ranked featherweights (plus-Zero.75). For his UFC/WEC profession, he has landed a decent four.12 vital strikes per minute, however he’s barely beneath common in strikes absorbed per minute at three.81. Jung’s defensive points have solely been exacerbated since his return from necessary army service for his native South Korea in 2017. In his previous two fights, Jung absorbed a staggering 5.06 vital strikes per minute.

Even when Jung is ready to cling with Moicano offensively, he doubtless will get the worst of the exchanges because of his defensive shortcomings. Standing within the pocket and throwing strikes is definitely congruent with Jung’s model. Nonetheless, it additionally will doubtless get him into bother in opposition to Moicano.

Hanging place

One of many greatest elements in Moicano’s success within the putting realm is what he does at distance. In his UFC profession, 96 % of his landed vital strikes have come at distance, which is outlined as standing and never within the clinch. Not solely does he do a overwhelming majority of his putting at distance, he is also correct within the place, touchdown 46 % of his makes an attempt. Then again, Jung lands solely 35 % of his distance strikes.

Contemplating Moicano does most of his putting at distance, his putting differential stays fairly constant when together with solely distance strikes. At distance, Moicano lands 5.35 per minute and absorbs three.35 for a plus-2.00 differential. The identical cannot be mentioned for Jung. At distance, his putting differential falls into the destructive, at minus-Zero.50.

Moicano has a transparent statistical edge within the general putting sport. That benefit seems to be even bigger at distance. Jung will doubtless have to discover a option to drive the combat into the clinch or on the bottom.

Chan Sung Jung, left, has by no means been recognized to draw back from a putting conflict. Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports activities

Leg strikes

One of many causes Moicano has been so profitable at distance is his capability to land strikes to his opponents’ legs. Twenty-six % of his landed vital strikes have come in opposition to that concentrate on. In his seven-fight UFC profession, he has landed 112 leg strikes and absorbed solely 58, and he has landed 86% of serious leg strike makes an attempt.

1 Associated

Jung focuses his putting assaults towards the top, and he lands worse than 10% of his vital strikes to the legs. He additionally stays susceptible to leg strikes, as 20% of his absorbed vital strikes have landed in opposition to his legs in his UFC/WEC profession.

A vital aspect of Moicano’s capability to outland opponents at distance is his capability to throw leg strikes at vary. Primarily based on the historic performances of each fighters, that is doubtless a bonus Moicano will take pleasure in in opposition to Jung.

Takedowns

Though it could be smart tactically for Jung to search for the clinch and takedowns, he won’t be capable of dictate place in opposition to Moicano. Throughout his UFC/WEC profession, Jung has averaged Zero.81 takedowns per 15 minutes of combat time. That quantity is each lower than excellent and considerably deceptive. He has landed 5 takedowns in his profession, with 4 coming in opposition to Dustin Poirier in 2012. Since that combat, he has failed on six straight takedown makes an attempt and landed zero.

Not solely does Moicano excel in the case of putting at distance, however he has been capable of drive his opponents into that form of combat. In his second UFC combat, he was taken down thrice by Zubaira Tukhugov. Nonetheless, since that combat, he has stuffed 5 straight takedown makes an attempt and landed 5 takedowns of his personal.

All fights begin at distance, and if Jung shouldn’t be capable of change the place of the competition, he could be compelled to slug it out at distance with Moicano. Jung has by no means shied away from a wild putting battle, but when this occurs, the combat leans strongly in favor of the Brazilian.