“I haven’t achieved everything, but I’ve achieved enough”
Conor McGregor “Korean Zombie is a real challenger”
Chung “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, 36, who came out of nowhere to become one of the biggest names in Korean mixed martial arts, 성인웹툰 has announced his retirement in tears after failing to break through the wall of the world’s top ranked fighters.
He thanked his fans and those in the sport who helped him along the way.
Chung was knocked out by Max Holloway (USA) at 23 seconds of the third round in the main event featherweight bout of “UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Korean Zombie” at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Nov. 26 (KST) night.
It was the second straight knockout for Chung, who suffered a fourth-round TKO in his title fight against current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (AUS) last April. His career record now stands at 17-8.
After an evenly matched first round, Chung struggled with Holloway’s strikes in the second round and was caught in a choke. In the third round, he tried to turn the tide with his trademark gritty game, but Holloway’s heavy strikes left him with a disappointing defeat.
“I haven’t achieved everything, but I’ve achieved enough,” 19가이드03 Chung said on social media, adding, “I feel like I’ve received undeserved love compared to what I’ve done, so I’m grateful to everyone.”
Fellow fighters, including former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor (IRL), UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones (USA), former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo (USA), and former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (USA), have also posted messages of respect for Chung.
McGregor posted on Instagram, “What a tremendous punch and match. Hats off to Chan Sung Jung and Holloway. Chan Sung Jung was so good. The Korean Zombie is a real challenger.”
In his post-fight interview, Chung said, “I’m done, I thought I was going to cry, but there are no tears,” and then added, “The reason I’m done is because I’m a champion. I didn’t do it to be third, fourth, or fifth, I did it to be a champion. I can’t beat the top guys, so I think it’s time to call it quits,” he explained.
He then dropped his gloves in the Octagon and took a big bow on the floor. He cried profusely as he walked down the Octagon, 한국야동 hugged his teammates and wife, and received words of comfort.