Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
After knocking out Frankie Edgar in the very first round a few weeks ago at UFC Busan, Chan Sung Jung took the opportunity to call out newly-crowned Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
And it’s a warranted shot, really, as “The Korean Zombie” has won three of his last four all via devastating knockout. And despite what the rankings say, he should be the true No. 1 contender.
But if the promotion feels that Jung needs to win one more fight to stake his claim, then the scrappy 145-pounder is all for it.
“I had this thought in the back of my head where, ‘If I were to knock Frankie out, I’d have the right to call Volkanovski out.’ Then it happened way too soon during the first round, and without hesitation, I called him out,” Jung said in an interview with MMA Fighting.
“I do kind of think that I may have to fight once more [before the title shot],” Jung said. “If I have to face another opponent, I’ll go for it.”
It may be out of necessity, too, as Volkanovki will be out a bit to tend to his injuries. Speaking of which, Jung will be undergoing a procedure himself to take care of his double vision. But once he’s back into the swing of things, his focus is on the strap, and Volkanovski.
“I’m eager to know when he will be back,” Jung added. “I think I’d be able to beat Volkanovski easier than Holloway could.”
Volkanovski defeated former champion Max Holloway at UFC 245 earlier this month to claim the title, and while many expected the promotion to start ramping up talks regarding an immediate rematch, that doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment.