Alexander Volkanovski showed he was a level above his opposition once again Saturday, when he defeated “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
In the UFC 273 main event, Volkanovski (24-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) stopped Jung (17-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) with strikes at 0:45 of Round 4 to retain his featherweight title. The bout took place at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
From beginning to end, Volkanovksi showed why he wears the belt. His leg kicks were strong and continually threw Jung off-balance. His boxing was crisp, and dropped and rocked Jung multiple times in the opening three rounds. The damage piled and piled, until it caught referee Herb Dean’s attention at the end of Round 3.
Prior to Round 4, Dean had the cageside physician enter the fighting surface to examine Jung, who was swollen, bleeding and scraped. The doctor gave a quick glance and approval for the fight to continue. However, it didn’t last long thereafter.
Volkanovski rocked Jung with a brutal combination seconds into the round and Dean had seen enough. While he didn’t go down, Jung was wobbled and perhaps the accumulated effect of the strikes added up.
Volk is dominating TKZ
#UFC273 pic.twitter.com/omweZLtL0W— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 10, 2022
Still champ, Volkanovski successfully defended his UFC featherweight title for the third time and extends his winning streak to 21 in the process. His UFC wins include Max Holloway (twice), Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes.
Jung came up short in his second UFC title challenge. His first UFC featherweight title shot came at UFC 163 in August 2013 when he lost to Jose Aldo by TKO due to injury. Nearly nine years later, he finds himself on the heels of another failed attempt. However, “The Korean Zombie” has long maintained his spot at the top of the featherweight division with wins coming over the likes of Dan Ige and Renato Moicano in recent years.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 273 results include:
- Alexander Volkanovski def. Chan Sung Jung via TKO (punches) – Round 4, 0:45
- Aljamain Sterling def. Petr Yan via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – to unify bantamweight title
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mackenzie Dern def. Tecia Torres via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Mark Madsen def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Ian Garry def. Darian Weeks via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Anthony Hernandez def. Josh Fremd via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Raquel Pennington def. Aspen Ladd via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mike Malott def. Mickey Gall via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:41
- Aleksei Oleinik def. Jared Vanderaa via submission (neck crank) – Round 1, 3:39
- Piera Rodriguez def. Kay Hansen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Julio Arce def. Daniel Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)