UFC FIGHT NIGHT: HOLLOWAY vs. THE KOREAN ZOMBIE: What you should know

11 August 2023

Prepare for a night of explosive action as UFC, the ultimate Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) authority, makes a triumphant return to the electrifying Lion City. On center stage, two of the most acclaimed featherweights in the world will collide, promising a spectacle that fans won't soon forget.

The captivating event is headlined by the former UFC featherweight champion and current No. 1-ranked contender, Max "Blessed" Holloway (24-7, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii, USA). Holloway's accolades have solidified his status as one of the division's all-time greats, boasting divisional records for the most wins (19) and finishes (10), alongside the extraordinary UFC record for total strikes landed (3,366). In his quest for glory, Holloway crosses paths with a legendary adversary, "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung (17-7, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea), renowned for his creative grappling and powerful striking.

The Korean Zombie's remarkable journey has thrilled fans worldwide, featuring unforgettable finishes against elite opponents such as Frankie Edgar, Dennis Bermudez, and Dustin Poirier. With two title shots to his name, Jung is primed to engage in an explosive showdown with top-ranked contender Holloway.

The co-main event unleashes a light heavyweight thriller, as the No. 8-ranked Anthony "Lionheart" Smith (36-18, fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska, USA) returns to action, determined to fortify his ranking.

Renowned for his exhilarating fighting style, Smith has concluded an astonishing 34 of his 36 victories before the final bell, showcasing his prowess against formidable names like Alexander Gustafsson, Mauricio Rua, and Rashad Evans. In a rematch of epic proportions, Smith squares off against the No. 10-ranked Ryan "Superman" Spann (21-8, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas, USA), a rising force in the light heavyweight division with a penchant for explosive first-round finishes.

The extraordinary fight night unfolds further with a thrilling undercard featuring an array of dynamic matchups:

• No. 9-ranked featherweight Giga Chikadze (14-3, fighting out of Tbilisi, Georgia) locks horns with No. 15-ranked Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres (21-13, fighting out of Miami, Florida, USA) in a promising early contender for Fight of the Night.
• Undefeated bantamweight prospect Rinya "Hybred" Nakamura (7-0, fighting out of Saitama, Japan), ROAD TO UFC Season 1 winner, faces off against Dana White's Contender Series alum Fernie Garcia (10-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas, USA).
• A high-stakes flyweight battle unfolds as No. 3-ranked Erin "Cold Blooded" Blanchfield (11-1, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J., USA) finally meets No. 4-ranked Taila Santos (19-2, fighting out of Balneário Camboriú, SC, Brazil), a former UFC flyweight title challenger.
• Heavyweight dynamo Junior "The Jaggernaut" Tafa (4-1, fighting out of Queensland, Australia) seeks to replicate his brother's success against experienced veteran Parker Porter (14-8, fighting out of West Hartford, Connecticut, USA).
• A heavyweight clash between Dana White's Contender Series standouts sees Waldo Cortes "Salsa Boy" Acosta (9-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundación, Barahona, Dominican Republic) square off against Lukasz "The Bull" Brzeski (8-3-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Zakopane, Poland).
• ROAD TO UFC Season 1 bantamweight finalist Toshiomi Kazama (11-3, fighting out of Ibaraki, Japan) makes his much-anticipated UFC debut, challenging Garrett Armfield (fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA).
• A collision of middleweight knockout artists unfolds as Chidi "Bang Bang" Njokuani (22-9, fighting out of Garland, Texas, USA) faces Michal "Hussar" Oleksiejczuk (18-6 1NC, fighting out of Leczna, Poland).
• China's beloved Song Kenan (19-7, fighting out of Beijing, China) returns to the Octagon to take on Rolando Bedoya (14-1, fighting out of Lima, Peru) in a captivating welterweight encounter.
• The welterweight division sees a clash between Dana White's Contender Series victors, as Billy Goff (8-2, fighting out of Groton, Connecticut, USA) battles Yusaku Kinoshita (6-2, fighting out of Osaka, Japan).
• Grappling sensation Liang Na (17-6, fighting out of Heilongjiang, China) seeks her first Octagon triumph against seasoned veteran JJ Aldrich (11-6, fighting out of Aurora, Colorado, USA) in an anticipated bout.
• A thrilling featherweight matchup ensues as Seungwoo "Sting" Choi (10-6, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) meets Jarno Errens (13-4-1, fighting out of Heerlen, the Netherlands).

What are your thoughts on the card? Let us know in the comments below.