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Chan Sung Jung wants Max Holloway next: 'He doesn't have punching power'

LAS VEGAS – Chan Sung Jung is gunning for a showdown with Max Holloway to determine the clear featherweight No. 1 contender after his victory in the UFC on ESPN 25 main event.

After beating Dan Ige by unanimous decision in Saturday’s featherweight headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, “The Korean Zombie’ attended the post-fight press conference and delivered a rare message in English.

Jung (17-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) said he would be more than eager to fight Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC), and criticized the former UFC champ’s punching power.

“Max, he doesn’t have punching power, but I have punching power,” Jung told MMA Junkie. “I can beat him.”

Jung’s victory over Ige (15-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) was the first time he needed the judges in getting his hand raised since 2008. It was a tactical performance from him, and one that saw Jung rely heavily on his ground game with takedowns, positional control, and submission attempts.

It was an important win for the 34-year-old after losing a title eliminator against Brian Ortega in his previous outing. Ortega is expected to challenge champion Alexander Volkanovski in September, and Holloway recently withdrew from a July 17 date with Yair Rodriguez due to injury.

If Holloway can return within a reasonable amount of time and the promotion opts to switch gears from the Rodriguez fight, Jung would ultimately take it.

“This fight really gave me the confidence that I can mix it up and I can be the world champion,” Jung said through an interpreter. “Definitely I want a title shot first. If I can’t get a title shot then I’m willing to fight Max, but I respect Yair and don’t want to do the way of kind of jumping between those two when they were already set to fight.”

 

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