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- What: UFC on ESPN+ 83
- Who: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie
- Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023
- Location: Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore
- Time: Prelims (5:00 a.m. ET) Main Card (8:00 a.m. ET)
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Saturday’s UFC Singapore fight card is the rare early morning card. The event, UFC on ESPN+ 83, which has a main card start time of 8 a.m. ET is headlined by a matchup between former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and two-time UFC 145-pound title challenger Chang Sung Jung, also known as The Korean Zombie. Here is some background on the Holloway vs. Korean Zombie fight before we discuss the betting breakdown for the UFC Singapore / UFC on ESPN+ 83 fight card.
Max Holloway (24-7) is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC featherweight rankings. As the champ, he defended his title three times before losing to Alexander Volkanovski in December 2019. Holloway, who is coming off an April 2023 decision win over Arnold Allen, failed to unseat Volkanovski in two later title fights.
The Korean Zombie (17-7) is ranked at No. 8 in the UFC’s 145-pound division. He has not fought since Volkanovski defeated him via TKO in April 2022. Jung lost his first UFC title shot in 2013 when Jose Aldo stopped him via TKO.
Before we look at the best bets for Holloway vs. Korean Zombie on the UFC on ESPN+ 83 card from Singapore, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find the best odds on all the UFC fights.
UFC on ESPN+ 83 main event: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie betting picks
| To Win UFC Singapore Main Event |  |  |  |  |
| Korean Zombie | +575 | +550 | +525 | +575 |
| Max Holloway | -825 | -850 | -825 | -825 |
UFC on ESPN+ 83 main event: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie betting breakdown
The first thing to note about this fight is it is not the one Jung’s management wanted him to take. They said of the matchup when it was announced, “We all wanted an easier fight for him as he’s kind of going into the tail-end of his career, but he’s always looked up to Max, and this is the fight he wanted, and we all want to see it.” Jung, at 36, is five years older than Holloway.
One reason Jung’s team might not like this fight is that it’s a terrible stylistic matchup for their athlete. Holloway is perhaps the most active striker in the UFC. He sets an overwhelming pace that even the best defensive fighters, outside of Volkanovski, who is responsible for three of Holloway’s seven career losses, can deal with. Holloway is all pressure and pop, exploiting every opening his opponent supplies him. Holloway might not be the most powerful striker in the 145-pound division, but he is at the top of the all-time UFC featherweight stats in many striking categories.
Jung is the type of fighter who plays into Holloway’s style. He gets hit more than he throws and tends to eschew defense in the hopes of catching his foe with a solid strike when they aren’t expecting it. His approach is not a secret to anyone, and a fighter like Holloway can exploit Jung’s style.
UFC Singapore main event: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie statistical breakdown
Fans can expect a spirited striking battle when Max Holloway and the Korean Zombie get after it at UFC Singapore. Holloway’s 7.16 significant strikes landed per minute is among the highest numbers in UFC featherweight history, as is his plus 2.47 striking differential. Holloway also holds UFC records for striking differential in one fight (plus 312), significant strikes landed in a UFC matchup (445), and significant strikes attempted in a single bout (744). Look for him to throw, and connect, on a lot of strikes against Jung.
Jung connects at 3.97 significant strikes per minute, which is a fair clip, but what is worrying is that he absorbs 4.35 significant strikes per minute. He’s never faced someone as active as Holloway, and his lack of defense and willingness to accept damage will not bode well for him against the former champion.
UFC Singapore main event: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie – What’s at stake
For Holloway, a win over the Korean Zombie is essential to keep his No. 1 ranking in the featherweight division. A loss to a lower-ranked fighter, who is an enormous betting underdog, will result in Holloway plummeting in the rankings.
For Jung, the matchup against Holloway is a no lose situation. The betting odds and the pre-fight stats are stacked against him. A win over Holloway will give Jung one of the biggest upset victories in UFC history.
Best Bets for UFC on ESPN+ 83 main event: Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie
With the betting odds so stacked in Max Holloway’s favor, there is not much betting value in picking the former champion just to win. The betting value for the UFC on ESPN+ 83 main event, for those who favor Holloway, comes down to how the fight will end. With how tough the Korean Zombie is, I expect him to make it past the mid-point of the scheduled five-round fight, but not to the end. The best bet for the outcome of the UFC Singapore main event is for Max Holloway to win via TKO/KO in the later rounds, most likely via a referee stoppage.
For those who like the betting odds for the underdog, at the listed odds, it’s always worth taking a very small flyer on someone like Jung, just in case something out of the ordinary occurs. However, due to the high risk, I would only place a small bet on the Korean Zombie.
Best UFC on ESPN+ 83 main event betting pick: Max Holloway to beat the Korean Zombie via knockout.
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