Trent Reinsmith
- Date & Location: Saturday, June 19, 2021, @ UFC Apex in Las Vegas
- Odds: Korean Zombie (-110) vs. Dan Ige (-110) BetOnline
- Prediction: Korean Zombie via decision
After a stacked UFC 263 pay-per-view card in Arizona, the UFC heads back to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 29 fight card. Unlike UFC 263, which featured two title fights, UFC Vegas 29 doesn’t have a title fight at the top of the card, but it features two men who have combined for 23 professional stoppages.
Chan Sung Jung, who prefers to go by the nickname “The Korean Zombie” went the distance for the first time in his UFC career in October when he dropped a decision to Brian Ortega. Before that loss, Jung had not gone the distance since he dropped a split decision to Leonard Garcia under the WEC banner in 2010. Jung has earned nine fight-night bonuses in his 11 WEC/UFC fights.
Ige had gone four fights without a finish before he knocked out Gavin Tucker in 22 seconds in March. The win was a bounce back victory after he dropped a decision to Calvin Kattar in July 2020. The UFC awarded Ige a “Performance of the Night” bonus for his win over Tucker.
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KOREAN ZOMBIE vs. IGE PREDICTION & PICK
As the odds indicate, this is a tough pick. One reason the pick is so difficult is how difficult it is to put either of these men away. Jung has three knockout losses and two of those can be explained away if you squint hard enough. In 2013, Jose Aldo scored a TKO win over Jung in a title fight, but that finish came after Jung’s shoulder was dislocated. His most recent stop came at 4:59 of the fifth round when Yair Rodriguez put him away with one of the craziest elbow strike techniques in UFC history. Jung’s other stoppage loss came in 2010 when George Roop knocked him out. Ige has never lost via stoppage. Both men have gone five full rounds.
I’m going to have to go with the veteran fighter who has spent more time at the top of the UFC’s featherweight division, and that is Jung. He’s been fighting the best the 155-pound division has offered since he submitted Dustin Poirier in 2012. Ige is still on the rise and this will be the biggest test of his career.
Prediction: Korean Zombie -115 via Bovada.
BETTING VALUE WITH KOREAN ZOMBIE
With the odds being even before the fight, I expect additional money will come in on Jung as fight night nears because of his past and name recognition. With that, the best value you’re going to see is as far ahead of the fight as possible.
Both these fighters can finish with their striking or their ground skills, but they are so tough, I think this one is going to go the distance and I think Jung pulls off the win.
Ige can win this bout and if you feel he will topple the more experienced Jung, I think the best time to bet him will be closer to fight time as I think he will drop to an underdog by the time the two step into the octagon.
Pick: Korean Zombie -115 by decision via BetUS.
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
It may seem easy to say these two are essentially equal in their skills, but that isn’t a stretch. The difference between Jung and Ige is quality of opponents and quality of victories, and Jung is, hands down, the winner in those departments.
FIGHT STATS: KOREAN ZOMBIE vs. IGE
| Korean Zombie | Category | Dan Ige |
| 34 | Age | 29 |
| 16-6 | Record | 15-3 |
| 6 | Knockout Wins | 4 |
| 8 | Submission Wins | 5 |
| 2 | Decision Wins | 6 |
| 5’7″ | Height | 5’7″ |
| 145 | Weight | 145 |
| 72″ | Reach | 71″ |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| 4.15 | Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute | 3.95 |
| 41% | Striking Accuracy | 46% |
| 4.01 | Significant Strikes Absorbed Per Minute | 3.36 |
| 56% | Striking Defense | 58% |
| 0.62 | Takedown Average Per 15 Minutes | 1.68 |
| 41% | Takedown Accuracy | 27% |
| 75% | Takedown Defense | 59% |
| 0.5 | Submission Average Per 15 Minutes | 0.5 |
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
I don’t think the winner of this fight is next in line for a title shot. I believe that after champion Alexander Volkanovski faces Brian Ortega, the winner of that bout will be in for a scrap against the winner of the matchup between former champion Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez. That’s not to say a spectacular finish by Jung or Ige couldn’t get them a title shot — it certainly could — but as I said, I think this one is going five rounds.
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