On Saturday night, in the main event of the UFC’s 25th anniversary show in Denver, Colorado, fan favorite featherweight contenders Yair Rodriguez and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung co-authored an instant classic.
It was an absolutely wild affair that nearly lasted the full five rounds. Yet as the final seconds melted off the clock, The Korean Zombie, decisively ahead on the scorecards, was put down by one of the most ridiculous elbow-strikes ever — with just a single second left in the fight.
Relieve this incredible Yair Rodriguez vs. Korean Zombie fight in the video above.
With his epic win over Chan Sung Jung, Yair Rodriguez rebounded from a May 2017 loss to Frankie Edgar — his last trip into the Octagon. He’s now a strong 11-2 overall, with seven of those wins occurring in the Octagon.
Post-fight, both men released thoughtful statements on their respective performances.
“I don’t have an excuse,” The Korean Zombie said in his post-fight statement (translation via Google Translate). “I’m so sorry for all the people who helped me.. Thank you.. I’m congratulations to those who hate me. I haven’t been able to get on the plane yet, so I’m going to be in Korea for a few days. It’s a shame, but.. I’ll go back and see you.”
Yair Rodriguez’s statement, which was much longer, and included thanks to his teammates and coaching staff, can be read here.
What do you think the future holds for Yair Rodriguez and The Korean Zombie after their 2018 Fight of the Year Contender?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 11/12/2018.
