Max Holloway achieved a walk-off knockout win against Chan Sung Jung, also known as “The Korean Zombie,” at UFC Singapore, despite earlier attempts at securing a finish during a frantic second round and in a choke submission that was allowed to continue by referee Marc Goddard.
Max Holloway’s highly anticipated showdown against Chan Sung Jung alias “The Korean Zombie” at UFC Singapore was a much-awaited match. The encounter ended with Holloway achieving a walk-off knockout he had long desired, although he initially believed he had secured a similar victory minutes earlier. In the frantic second round, Holloway landed a punch on Jung that dropped the seasoned featherweight to the ground. Holloway assumed he had clinched victory at this point, but the referee, Marc Goddard, decided the fight should continue.
In an unexpected twist, instead of delivering more punches to Jung, Holloway embarked on a D’arce choke submission, which appeared to be his path to victory. Reflecting on the fight during the UFC Singapore post-battle press conference, Holloway referred to Jung as a “zombie,” expressing surprise at his resiliency. He maintained a tight grip on his D’arce choke attempt as “The Korean Zombie” dragged himself around the floor of the cage to escape Holloway’s grasp.
Multiple times during these tense moments, Holloway felt the match was on the verge of being called off. However, Goddard continued to reassure him that Jung was not unconscious and was still struggling to break free. Despite his determination to complete the submission, Holloway also had concerns about his own stamina. He had to take into account that there were still three rounds remaining, which pushed him to forsake his D’arce choke.
Eventually achieving his knockout victory in the succeeding round, Holloway admired Jung’s resilience and spirit, especially when the latter announced his retirement shortly following the end of the main event at UFC Singapore. He praised Jung’s toughness, recalling how he survived strikes in the second round that he initially thought had finished him. Holloway considered it an honor to have been his final fight and praised Jung’s decision to retire after pursuing the match. He expressed deep respect for the “Korean Zombie,” a testament to the admiration gained through a history of challenging and engaging fights.