Photo by Woohae Cho/Zuffa LLC
UFC featherweight Brian Ortega demanded Chan Sung Jung sign a deal to fight him.
Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung were supposed to fight on December 21st, at the UFC on ESPN+ 23 card. However, Ortega fell out of that matchup due to a knee injury. Frankie Edgar would replace him and be steam-rolled by the Korean Zombie in the first round.
Now healed, Ortega is itching for another shot at Jung. The American’s desire to face the South Korean seemed to boil over at UFC 248 in March, when Ortega allegedly slapped Jung’s friend Jay Park (while Jung was in the bathroom).
Yesterday on Instagram Ortega begged that, “Someone tell Korean Zombie sign the contract. You been asked multiple times already. Give the fans what they want to see and quit stalling.” (ht MMA Fighting)
Jung clearly saw Ortega’s post. It didn’t take long for the former title challenger to explain his reluctance to sign the deal, as well as promise that a fight would get made, eventually.
“I am sure you are aware why I can’t go to the states at this time,” wrote Jung, alluding to the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 500,000 people (including 128,000 Americans). “If you would come to Korea. I am ready even in July. Otherwise, stay calm waiting for me.”
It’s no wonder that Ortega is anxious to get back inside a UFC Octagon. He hasn’t been there since December 2018. That’s when he lost a featherweight title fight to then champion Max Holloway. Prior to that TKO loss, Ortega was undefeated with a record of 14-0 (1 NC) and victories over Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano.
Jung has been a little more active; along with beating Edgar he also bested Moicano last year. Those two wins came after his dramatic last second defeat to Yair Rodriguez in November 2018.
Ortega and Jung are ranked 3rd and 4th in the UFC’s featherweight rankings. Both men’s attentions will undoubtedly be focused on Yas Island in the coming weeks, where current featherweight champ Alex Volkanovski defends his title versus former champ Holloway. The winner of that bout will likely be seeing the winner of an Ortega vs. Jung contest in the near future.