If UFC president Dana White is serious, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski’s next challenger will be decided this weekend.
On Wednesday, White labeled Chan Sung Jung vs. Brian Ortega as a title eliminator bout for the 145-pound division. The two are set to fight this Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN+38 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
“It’s absolutely the No. 1 contender fight,” White told ESPN. “First of all, it’s the fight that should’ve happened a long time ago. We’re finally here, with all the crazy stuff that’s happened and all the crazy things that always happen in this business. For us to finally be here, the ‘Zombie’ vs. Ortega, absolutely the winner of this fight should get the next title shot.”
Earlier Wednesday, Jung’s coach and translator, Eddie Cha, said they’d heard the same thing and hoped White would keep his word.
Both Ortega (No. 2) and Jung (No. 4) are ranked in the top five of the UFC’s official rankings.
Jung (16-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is currently on a two-fight winning streak since bouncing back from a loss to Yair Rodriguez in late 2018. Both wins were TKOs that earned him “Performance of the Night” bonuses.
Meanwhile, Ortega (14-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is coming off an almost two-year layoff. He last fought in December 2018 where he suffered his first loss to then champion Max Holloway in a lopsided title fight.
Volkanovski has been waiting for a challenger since July after his first successful title defense in a rematch against Holloway.
Dana White: Brian Ortega vs. Chan Sung Jung is ‘absolutely the No. 1 contender fight’