UFC Busan breakdown: Can Frankie Edgar overcome the odds once again?

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 23.

UFC on ESPN+ 23 takes place Saturday at Sajik Arena in Busan, South Korea. The card streams on ESPN+.

Frankie Edgar (23-7-1 MMA, 17-7-1 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’6″ Age: 38 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 68″
• Last fight: Decision loss to Max Holloway (July 27, 2019)
• Camp: Nick Catone MMA (New Jersey)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Excellent

Supplemental info:

+ Former UFC lightweight champion
+ 4x NCAA Division I All-American wrestler
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 7 knockout victories
+ 4 submission win
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
^ High-volume striker
+ Good feints and footwork
+ Solid timing and transitions
+ Effective chain wrestling
+ Excellent grappling ability
^ Positionally aware/scrambles well
+ Active ground striker

Chan Sung Jung (15-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’7″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 72″
• Last fight: TKO win over Renato Moicano(June 22, 2019)
• Camp: Korean Zombie MMA (South Korea)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:

+ Kickboxing experience
^ Pro record of 15-6 with 11 KO’s
+ 5 knockouts victories
+ 8 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Relentless pace and pressure
+ Effective combination striker
^ Often shifts stances on attack
+ Catches kicks and counters well
+ Underrated wrestling ability
+ Superb transitional grappler
^ Works well from front-headlock
– Traditionally takes damage

Point of interest: Enter the zombie

The main event in Busan features a fun, short-notice featherweight fight between two fan favorites.

MMA’s equivalent to “The Little Engine That Could,” Frankie Edgar has made a career in overcoming odds and adversity through a unique combination of well-versed skill and ironclad will – something he will attempt to do once again this Saturday.

Consistently circling outside of range and encouraging his opponents to follow, the 14-year pro will work his way in behind a plethora of punches once finding an angle of approach to his liking.

Typically exiting exchanges at different angles than which he came, Edgar hedges his bets defensively through his level-changing sensibilities, something that helps open up both his combination and takedown attacks. Implementing this arsenal of constant volume, variety, and angles, Edgar often breaks down his opposition the longer a fight goes on.

However, due to the nature of Edgar’s in-and-out approach, he is not beyond being taxed on the way in (something we were all reminded of in his loss to Brian Ortega). And considering the uppercut and countering acumen of his current counterpart, Edgar will need to be extra mindful of changing levels into space.

Enter Chan Sung Jung.

Earning his moniker of “The Korean Zombie,” Jung is a relentless pressure-fighter who embodies the fighting spirit of his nation.
Coming from a kickboxing base, Jung confidently presses through space, almost inviting his opposition in. And once he can corral his target between the cage and inner-black octagon lines, Jung morphs into a non-disseminating offensive marauder, going to work on any piece of flesh that becomes available.

Whether he is slipping and returning slick uppercut-hook variations or unleashing flying knees up the center, Jung offers plenty of offense inside the pocket that his opposition has to respect. That said, if Jung cannot force this fight into his preferred terms, then he may run the risk of following around a more fleet-of-foot striker.

Sure, Edgar may not offer the same knockout intangibles that Yair Rodriguez or George Roop used to make Jung pay, but the former lightweight champ does possess other threats that could produce results against the South Korean.

Next point of interest: Scramble city