UFC Singapore Preview
The UFC is making a return visit to Singapore for the sixth time on Saturday, August 26th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang. The main event will be a featherweight battle between former champion Max Holloway vs. two-time title challenger Chan Sung Jung.
Holloway is coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over surging contender Arnold Allen in April. The win was the third in his last four fights with the loss coming in a third fight against champion Alexander Volkanovski.
The former champion won 13 straight fights between 2014 and 2019, he defended the belt three times, and is one of the most durable fighters in the history of the UFC. The 31-year-old will not be making his first trip to Singapore, in fact his winning streak started in the country with a TKO win in 2014. Holloway remembers this experience.
“It wasn’t just another fight,” he said, reflecting on his first trip to Singapore. “I was down two fights. You’re fighting a new guy making his debut, and it doesn’t look good if you lose, so, at the end of the day, I knew I had to do something — not only win, but put a mark on it, and that’s what I did. That started everything back in 2014.
“We’re here now, years later — I’m only 31, turn 32 at the end of the year,” he added, laughing. “People keep forgetting and I gotta keep reminding people. I’m a veteran in a lot of you guys’ eyes because I’ve been here for a minute, but another long run is on my mind.”
Many critics believed that Holloway’s chin would finally be tested in his last fight, but just like he has done many times before, he reminded the pundits to never sleep on him. “I knew what I was capable of. My team knew what I was capable of. That Arnold fight — that ‘Still Here’ fight — was just a reminder,” said Holloway. “Everyone was telling me that Arnold is the one that is going to crack my chin, and this is it, ‘Max shouldn’t be fighting,’ and blah blah blah.
“I went out there and did my thing.”
The Hawaiian fighter plans on making the same kind of statement on Saturday. “We go out there, fight ‘The Korean Zombie,’ put another stamp on it, and make myself undeniable,” he added. “The last one was to remind everybody that we’re still here, and this motivation is undeniable. Nothing but love for ‘The Korean Zombie,’ who was another guy I used to watch growing up, just like Aldo.”
“I thought we were gonna fight way earlier, but things didn’t pan out — they never do,” Holloway said, chasing his quip with a chortle. “But Mother Time found a way, we’re here now, and what better place to be. I can’t wait. He’s a legend in every sense, and I get to fight him in Asia. I’m excited.”
The same critics that thought Holloway would lose his last fight are saying he does not deserve a fourth fight with Volkanovski. Holloway responded by saying, “I know I have some history with the champ, but it’s not like I’m holding this No. 2 in the world or whatever it is — it’s not like I’m holding this position and not fighting, for years,” he said, a little frustration tinging his words. “I could see how people would be mad if I were sitting around and crying for a title shot — ‘I’m owed this! I’m owed that!’ — but I’m fighting contenders, I’m fighting tough guys.’
He concluded, “Before I got to fight the champ for a third time, I had to fight top contenders that you guys thought were gonna take me out. I got it, things didn’t go my way, I fought another contender because I want to be the best.
“I could start fighting down the line and being like ‘Let me fight the 10 and below guys, and let the champ fight 1-10,’ but no — this is the guy I’ve gotta fight to get the title shot, so this is what I gotta do.”
“My goal is to go out here and be undeniable — put a stamp on it, mail it in, and let everybody know,” he said. “I can’t wait to be out there.
Aside from the losses to Volkanovski, Holloway is arguably the best featherweight of all-time. The first two fights with the current champ were incredibly close, and both could have been scored for Holloway. The problem he is facing now is that Volkanovski may have distanced himself a bit in the last fight between the two. Of the three fights, Volkanovski looked the most dominant of the two fighters in the third fight and there was no doubt that he was the winner. However, if Holloway continues to dominate contenders, it will be difficult to argue a fourth fight with Volkanovski.
Aside from Allen, Holloway has key victories in his career over Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (twice), Anthony Pettis, Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens, Charles Oliveira and Cub Swanson. A win over Volkanovski could put a stamp on his hall of fame status, but he must first get by Jung in Singapore.
Chan Sung Jung otherwise known as The Korean Zombie, has not fought since UFC 273, 16 months ago. In that fight he challenged Volkanovski for the title but was completely dominated by the champion losing by fourth round TKO. He is 3-3 in his last six fights but in the victories he has looked dominant.
The 36-year-old was brutally honest about his last loss for the title. “The Volkanovski fight was a a big fight so losing like that was hurtful. I had to take a break, to reassess. I watched the fight and if I (ever) fight like this again I will not continue my career,” said Jung.
The Korean Zombie is feeling revitalized by a fight with Holloway. “He’s a fighter I have wanted to fight my entire career. As he mentioned in his interview, we’ve been in the top ten for many years (and) Max and I are exciting fighters so him and me inside the octagon cannot be boring.”
The former title challenger feels great heading into Singapore. “Before every fight I believe I am in the best shape but before this fight it’s true. I’m in the best shape of my entire career both physically and mentally.”
While he has respect for Holloway, Jung knows what a victory over the former champion would do for his storied run in the UFC. “Max is one of the best fighters out of all the division, he’s a former champion and in the pound for pound ranking. Getting a win over such a legendary fighter would be a huge boost to my career.”
The Korean Zombie is already a legend in the sport of MMA and has key victories over Dan Ige, Frankie Edgar, Renato Moicano, Dennis Bermudez, Dustin Poirier, Mark Hominick and Leonard Garcia. A win over Holloway at this point would be the biggest victory of his career and could potentially be the boost he needs to go on one last improbable run at the title.
The Rest of the Main Card:
Light Heavyweight - #8 Anthony Smith vs. #10 Ryan Spann
Featherweight - #9 Giga Chikadzevs. #15 Alex Caceres
Bantamweight - Rinya Nakamura vs. Fernie Garcia
Women's Flyweight - #3 Erin Blanchfield vs. #4 Taila Santos
Heavyweight - Junior Tafa vs. Parker Porter
ESPN + Prelims:
Heavyweight - Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Łukasz Brzeski
Bantamweight - Toshiomi Kazama vs. Garrett Armfield
Middleweight - Chidi Njokuani vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Welterweight - Song Kenan vs. Rolando Bedoya
Welterweight - Billy Goff vs. Yusaku Kinoshita
Women's Flyweight - Liang Na vs. JJ Aldrich
Featherweight - Choi Seung-woo vs. Jarno Errens
