Chan Sung Jung: 'I Want to Fight B.J. Penn'
Chan Sung Jung: 'I Want to Fight B.J. Penn'
Former WEC veteran turned UFC featherweight Chan Sung Jung, more commonly known as the "Korean Zombie" by fight fans, is itching to return to competition against UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn.
Chan Sung Jung, more commonly known as the "Korean Zombie" by fight fans, is itching to return to competition.
For the past two years, the former WEC veteran turned UFC featherweight has been serving his mandatory military service in his native country of South Korea. As a result, the former title contender was not allowed participate in any mixed martial arts bouts.
Jung (13-4) was last seen suffering a dislocated shoulder in the fourth round of his UFC 163 title fight with champion Jose Aldo in 2013. This loss snapped Jung's three-fight winning streak, which included a 2011 Submission of the Year victory over Leonard Garcia, a UFC record seven-second knockout of Mark Hominick, and a 2012 Fight of the Year performance against Dustin Poirier.
He also earned the 2010 Fight of the Year in his split-decision loss to Garcia back at WEC 48. Jung was originally scheduled to make his long-awaited return from injury against Akira Corisanni at UFC Fight Night 53 before another injury forced him out of the bout.
So with his military service coming to an end, Jung has a certain UFC Hall of Famer in mind for his highly anticipated return.
"When the B.J. Penn/Lamas fight was announced [for UFC Fight Night 97], I thought I missed my chance," said Jung during an interview with Monsterzym. "But then I heard B.J. Penn had a rib injury. So, I kind of felt that maybe it was an opportunity for me. It would be great timing if B.J. Penn, and I were ready to come back at the same time."
Penn (16-10-2), who is one of only two fighters to win UFC titles in two different weight classes, has not competed since suffering a third-round TKO to Frankie Edgar at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in 2014. Penn announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts immediately after the loss.
He was expected to come out of retirement against Lamas in the main event of the October 15 card at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. However, a rib injury suffered in training camp forced Penn off the card. As a result, UFC officials scrapped the card entirely.
This would have marked the Hawaiian's second bout as a member of the UFC's 145-pound division after years of reigning atop lightweight and welterweight.
"Since he was a lightweight before, I never really thought about fighting him that much," Jung said. "But when he came down to featherweight, I would think that all of the fighters in the division would have liked to fight him. I'm one of them. Since I'm coming back and B.J. is going to be coming back, I'd really like a chance to fight him."
For the past two years, the former WEC veteran turned UFC featherweight has been serving his mandatory military service in his native country of South Korea. As a result, the former title contender was not allowed participate in any mixed martial arts bouts.
Jung (13-4) was last seen suffering a dislocated shoulder in the fourth round of his UFC 163 title fight with champion Jose Aldo in 2013. This loss snapped Jung's three-fight winning streak, which included a 2011 Submission of the Year victory over Leonard Garcia, a UFC record seven-second knockout of Mark Hominick, and a 2012 Fight of the Year performance against Dustin Poirier.
He also earned the 2010 Fight of the Year in his split-decision loss to Garcia back at WEC 48. Jung was originally scheduled to make his long-awaited return from injury against Akira Corisanni at UFC Fight Night 53 before another injury forced him out of the bout.
So with his military service coming to an end, Jung has a certain UFC Hall of Famer in mind for his highly anticipated return.
"When the B.J. Penn/Lamas fight was announced [for UFC Fight Night 97], I thought I missed my chance," said Jung during an interview with Monsterzym. "But then I heard B.J. Penn had a rib injury. So, I kind of felt that maybe it was an opportunity for me. It would be great timing if B.J. Penn, and I were ready to come back at the same time."
Penn (16-10-2), who is one of only two fighters to win UFC titles in two different weight classes, has not competed since suffering a third-round TKO to Frankie Edgar at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in 2014. Penn announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts immediately after the loss.
He was expected to come out of retirement against Lamas in the main event of the October 15 card at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. However, a rib injury suffered in training camp forced Penn off the card. As a result, UFC officials scrapped the card entirely.
This would have marked the Hawaiian's second bout as a member of the UFC's 145-pound division after years of reigning atop lightweight and welterweight.
"Since he was a lightweight before, I never really thought about fighting him that much," Jung said. "But when he came down to featherweight, I would think that all of the fighters in the division would have liked to fight him. I'm one of them. Since I'm coming back and B.J. is going to be coming back, I'd really like a chance to fight him."