Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Back in July, a report emerged that UFC was looking to book Chan Sung Jung (15-5) vs. Brian Ortega (14-1 (1)) for the main event slot of UFC Fight Night 159 in Mexico City, Mexico on Sept. 21. It was a sensible and exciting match up, a perfect main event with important title implications.
However, nothing came of it. Four weeks from the event, Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens is set as the main event, and the fight between Jung and Ortega remains unbooked. Earlier in the week, Ortega expressed his continued desire to face the South Korean, particularly since his foe was “talking shit.”
“The Korean Zombie” has responded:
“You never tried to fight in Mexico City. You lie too much,” wrote Jung on Instagram.
This is certainly something of an odd situation, one where it’s impossible to tell if there is actually some personal dislike here or if the two are merely selling the fight. Jung and Ortega are historically without drama and nice enough outside of the cage, yet Ortega says Jung is talking trash — what was said? where? when? — and now Jung is outright accusing him of ducking the Mexico City main event slot.
The bright side is that it’s a fantastic fight either way. In his trio of bouts since returning from military service, Jung has delivered a pair of gigantic knockout wins and a “Fight of the Year” candidate vs. Yair Rodriguez — a fight Jung had in the bag before recklessly charging forward into a Hail Mary elbow in the closing seconds.
Ortega, meanwhile, snatched necks and rocked chins in his first seven UFC bouts to secure a title shot. He admittedly took a beating opposite Max Holloway, but Ortega remains a ranked and relevant title contender.
It’s a great fight whether the two trade blows, submission attempts, or both. Hopefully it manages to come together, perhaps for the Dec. 21 event in Seoul, South Korea?