UFC featherweight Chan Sung Jung--better known as the "Korean Zombie"--is one of the most beloved fighters in the entire sport of MMA. His never-say-die attitude and his epic, show-stopping performances inside the Octagon have made every single one of his fights must-see TV.

After a three-and-a-half-year layoff, "The Korean Zombie" makes his long awaited return to action against top 10-ranked Dennis Bermudez Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 104, live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 

This being the most monumental sports weekend of the year, UFC Houston kicks off an action-packed weekend that culminates with Super Bowl 51, taking place Sunday afternoon on FOX. It's a huge weekend for fans stateside, but someone had to explain to Jung how big of a deal the football game will be. All things considered, he is very appreciative of the organization for scheduling him in such a high-profile comeback fight.

"I'm happy to be back fighting again," Jung told FloCombat. "It's an honor and a thrill that the UFC believes in me enough to put me in the main event on Super Bowl weekend. In Korea, we don't follow American football at all, but my American friends have told me it's like the World Cup in soccer. So, it's definitely a big deal for me to be here for my comeback fight."

Jung's always-aggressive, fight-finishing style coupled with Bermudez's will-breaking wrestling and heavy-handed striking would suggest that this fight has the potential to be a throwdown of epic proportions. Once the Octagon door shuts, Jung sees Bermudez leaning toward his base, while he wants to keep the standup action cracking from bell to bell.

"We're expecting him to come out and use his wrestling," Jung said. "I doubt he wants to stand with me. He has explosive striking, but with my reach advantage and my overall skill set, he'll probably try to take me down when he gets the chance. I hope that he doesn't just try to grind out a win. Whenever I fight, I like to put on an exciting show for the fans. That's just my natural fighting style."

"The Korean Zombie" had numerous life changing events occur during his extended time away from competition. After much reflection, he feels as though he has completed the first half of his career and is now entering the second half of action. He fully intends to come out of halftime rested, recovered and ready to make a title run.

"During my time off, I had two daughters," Jung said. "I did a lot of thinking. In Korea, many people think of 30 as old for a fighter, but I would like to continue fighting for as long as I can. Early in my career, I relied too much on my chin and I really bought into the 'zombie' hype. That peaked in my fight against George Roop. I fought a really careless fight, because I really did think that I couldn't be knocked out. After that I started to be more tactical, both in my training and in the Octagon."

"I'm thinking more about my future and my family. Of course, I'm still the Zombie, but maybe more of a tactical zombie."

His absence was due in large part to mandatory military service in his home country of South Korea. He fulfilled his military obligations and grew his family, all while juggling a training regime geared to a high-level mixed marital artist yearning to return to competition.

"Military service is mandatory for all able-bodied Korean men," Jung said. "Due to all of the injuries and surgeries that I had due to MMA, I wasn't in the regular army. So after basic training, I was assigned to a government office job. That allowed me to commute from home and continue to work out. I went to work early in the morning and finished in the afternoon, so I was able to go and train with my team on most days."

Not all of Jung's training was done in his home country in the lead up to this fight. He traveled to Arizona to work with fellow Korean fighter, old friend and former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. Jung spent a good deal of time training with Henderson and company and even had a room at Casa de Henderson during his time in the States.

"I went to train with Benson at the MMA Lab," Jung said. "We've known each other since back in the WEC days and since he's half Korean, we have a unique bond. He, his wife Maria and their son, Kyung, were kind enough to let me stay at his house and be part of the family during my month of training in Phoenix. I definitely plan to come back to the US and train as much as possible. I'd like to see how other teams work as well. It's always good to get a lot of different input and to try to learn as much as possible."