It was kind of weird watching the UFC on a Tuesday night, but when UFC on Fuel 3 was all said in done, I was happy to have stayed in on a weeknight. The card was the first in years that UFC President Dana White missed and one that saw multiple fighters…
It was kind of weird watching the UFC on a Tuesday night, but when UFC on Fuel 3 was all said in done, I was happy to have stayed in on a weeknight. The card was the first in years that UFC President Dana White missed and one that saw multiple fighters reestablish themselves in their divisions.
Chan Sung Jung earned a title shot with his win over Dustin Poirier and Donald Cerrone showed that he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division.
With such a solid event, it’s time to go over the questions answered and lessons learned from UFC on Fuel 3.
It’s important that we find an opponent for Donald Cerrone quickly. In all honesty, when you consider the fact that Cerrone has fought six times for the UFC in the last 15 months, there is a decent chance that Cowboy has already signed a contract…
It’s important that we find an opponent for Donald Cerrone quickly. In all honesty, when you consider the fact that Cerrone has fought six times for the UFC in the last 15 months, there is a decent chance that Cowboy has already signed a contract for his next fight.
All jokes aside, Cerrone is a workhorse who is coming off a one-sided beatdown of slugger Jeremy Stephens. Last night was the 14th UFC fight for Stephens, and while he has seen his fair share of defeats, no one has ever manhandled him in the manner that we just witnessed.
Cerrone is back on track to make a break for the top. Here is a look at five possible opponents for his next fight.
With a stellar, action-packed UFC on Fuel event in the books, it’s time to turn our eyes toward the future. What’s next for the stars of Fuel 3? Where they do go from here? Some of them inched closer to relevance, and at least one turned himself i…
With a stellar, action-packed UFC on Fuel event in the books, it’s time to turn our eyes toward the future.
What’s next for the stars of Fuel 3? Where they do go from here? Some of them inched closer to relevance, and at least one turned himself into a bona-fide pay-per-view attraction in a single fight.
Let’s take a look at five fights I’d like to see coming out of Tuesday’s show in Virginia.
Before the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung showed fans once again that he’s the new Diego Sanchez, the UFC’s third show on FUEL TV was floundering. Filled mostly with unfamiliar names and tepid action, the show seemed like a complete bust, especially af…
Before the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung showed fans once again that he’s the new Diego Sanchez, the UFC’s third show on FUEL TV was floundering. Filled mostly with unfamiliar names and tepid action, the show seemed like a complete bust, especially after former The Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah ground the action to a halt with an abysmal co-main event.
Funny how a thrilling final tilt can change all of that in the blink of an eye.
Jung showed diverse technique, a complete inability to protect himself from damage, and the mental fortitude to not give a damn about what happens to his body— all the hallmarks of a great action fighter.
Jung wasn’t the only one to wow the crowd. There were entertaining moments throughout. Here are five of the best.
The main event of last night’s UFC on FUEL TV 3 event blew past its already high expectations. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier set a frenetic pace for over three rounds, with Jung dominating the fight both in the standup and on the ground. In the end, Jung rocked Poirier with punches and a flying knee, and put “Diamond” to sleep on the mat with a d’arce choke at the 1:07 mark of round four. You can check out highlights from their scrap above, including an excerpt from Jung’s astounding grappling clinic in round two.
After the jump: Dustin Poirier gets emotional in a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, and full results from UFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier.
The main event of last night’s UFC on FUEL TV 3 event blew past its already high expectations. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier set a frenetic pace for over three rounds, with Jung dominating the fight both in the standup and on the ground. In the end, Jung rocked Poirier with punches and a flying knee, and put “Diamond” to sleep on the mat with a d’arce choke at the 1:07 mark of round four. You can check out highlights from their scrap above, including an excerpt from Jung’s astounding grappling clinic in round two.
After the jump: Dustin Poirier gets emotional in a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, and full results from UFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier.
MAIN CARD
– Chan Sung Jung def. Dustin Poirier via technical submission (d’arce choke), 1:07 of round 4
– Amir Sadollah def. Jorge Lopez via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
– Donald Cerrone def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
– Yves Jabouin def. Jeff Hougland via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)
– Igor Pokrajac def. Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
– Tom Lawlor def. Jason MacDonald via KO, 0:50 of round 1
PRELIMINARY CARD
– Brad Tavares def. Dongi Yang via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Cody McKenzie def. Marcus LeVesseur via submission (guillotine choke), 3:05 of round 1
– T.J. Grant def. Carlo Prater via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
– Rafael Dos Anjos def. Kamal Shalorus via submission (rear-naked choke), 1:40 of round 1
– Johnny Eduardo def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Francisco Rivera def. Alex Soto via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
It was meant to be a fight that would launch the 23-year-old featherweight Dustin Poirier into a title shot, but instead became a showcase for the scintillating talent of the man they call The Korean Zombie: Chan-Sung Jung. In what could go down as the…
It was meant to be a fight that would launch the 23-year-old featherweight Dustin Poirier into a title shot, but instead became a showcase for the scintillating talent of the man they call The Korean Zombie: Chan-Sung Jung.
In what could go down as the fight of the year, the main card of the UFC on Fuel 3 event delivered almost four rounds of nonstop action last night, as Chan-Sung bested rising star Poirier in all aspects of the game.
There are questions whether The Korean Zombie, so reckless in his relentless march forward, dropped a round in the third, but there are no questions over the powerful strikes that set up a beautiful transition to a D’Arce choke, which finally submitted Poirier in one minute, seven seconds of the fourth round.
Poirier was a slight favourite going into the match, and the youngster was already itching for a title shot against the man many consider the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world—Jose Aldo. Those thoughts are now fixed on Chan-Sung instead, who is now 3-0 in his UFC career.
The Korean makes a strong case for title contention. In his first two matches for the promotion, he secured the submission of the night, the knockout of the night and may have been in the fight of the year last night.
With a slight reach advantage, Poirier was supposed to be his superior in the striking game. At many times throughout the match, his pinpoint striking reflected this. But Chan-Sung was easily his equal, landing powerful short uppercuts and devastating knees, which outdid the young Louisiana native.
On the ground his skills were unmatched. Transitioning from takedown to ground-and-pound to submission with eye-watering ease, he left Poirier looking confused and out of place.
However, whether the fighter we saw against Poirier last night is ready for Aldo is another matter. Chan-Sung takes his nickname from the zombie-like way he moves forward despite taking shots. That “habit” of his was on display again against Poirier, as he left himself exposed and open to Poirier’s striking.
He may have gotten away with it last night, but against a clinical Muay Thai expert like Aldo, that tactic may prove his undoing.
Aldo has also shown himself to be almost impossible to take down. In his last fight against Chad Mendes, who many would consider the best wrestler in the division, Aldo stood resolutely on his feet, finishing his opponent in the first round.
And on his feet is where Aldo is most devastating, finishing eight of his last 11 fights by KO or TKO.
Aldo is set to take on Erik Koch on July 21 at UFC 149 in Calgary, Canada, where he’ll be the heavy favourite. After Koch, there are not many names that leap out as the obvious next fight for the Brazilian. Chan-Sung’s recent performance has surely staked his claim for a title shot. But he’ll have to iron out the kinks in his stand-up game if he hopes to become UFC Featherweight Champion.
It was meant to be a fight that would launch the 23-year-old featherweight Dustin Poirier into a title shot, but instead became a showcase for the scintillating talent of the man they call The Korean Zombie: Chan-Sung Jung.