UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs The Korean Zombie
12-21-19
From Busan, South Korea
By Dylan Hager
After a huge ppv from Vegas last weekend, the UFC is live from South Korea this weekend! It is another weekend of fights and breakfast for those of us in the states, and we will be treated to a dynamite main event between Frankie Edgar and The Korean Zombie. There isn't a ton on this card outside of the main and co-main, but these foreign cards always produce a list of young fighters to keep an eye on. Prediction time!
Frankie Edgar (22-7-1) (4) vs Chan Sung Jung (15-5) (6)
Frankie freaking Edgar vs The Korean freaking Zombie! What a main event! Edgar was (and still is?) scheduled to take on Corey Sandhagen at 135lbs next month, but he is replacing Brian Ortega in this Featherweight main event. Edgar is a legend in this sport. He is coming off a loss to Max Holloway in a title fight this past July.
Zombie only has three fights since losing a title fight to Jose Aldo in August 2013. He lost a wild fight at the last second to Yair Rodriguez in November of 2018, but he came back with a huge stoppage of Renato Moicano in under a minute this past June.
Both of these fighter have big fight experience, and they have been through wars. I think Frankie is the better wrestler, but Jung does have more submission victories. Both men are dangerous on the feet. If this becomes a straight up brawl, I think Zombie has the advantage. If this stays as more of a technical fight, I think Frankie has the advantage. Both men are ridiculously tough, so I could easily see this going the distance. However, both of these guys also have great finishing ability. This could go twenty-five minutes, or this could go two minutes. I like Frankie to win a close fight. Prediction: Frankie Edgar Decision
Volkan Oezdemir (16-4) (8) vs Aleksander Rakic (12-1) (10)
There is going to be a lot of power on display in this Light Heavyweight co-main event. Former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir takes on up and coming Aleksander Rakic. Volkan lost a title fight to Daniel Cormier in January 2018, and he followed that up with losses to Anthony Smith and a controversial loss to Dom Reyes. Volkan did win his last fight, stopping Ilir Latifi this past August. Rakic lost his first professional fight, but he has won all twelve fights since. He scored a first round KO of Devin Clark last December, and he followed that up with a 42 second KO of Jimi Manuwa this past June.
Both of these have a ton of KO power. I don't see this going the distance. It easily could come down to lands the first clean shot. If this somehow ends up on the ground, I think I would give Volkan the slightest of edges. Volkan has fought the tougher talent, but that doesn't mean much when you have Rakic throwing at your face. Rakic is eventually going to lose a fight again, but I don't think it happens Saturday. Prediction: Aleksander Rakic 2nd Round KO
Doo Ho Choi (14-3) vs Charles Jourdain (9-2)
"The Korean Superboy" Doo Ho Choi makes his return to the octagon for the first time since January 2018. Choi will be welcomed back by Charles "Air" Jourdain. Jourdain lost his UFC debut to Desmond Green this past May. Choi lost his last two fights after winning twelve straight. Choi has more experience and knows how to finish fights. Jourdain didn't look awful in his loss to Green, but there is different level in competition from Choi to Green. I like Choi to finish in the second. Prediction: Doo Ho Choi 2nd Round TKO
Da Un Jung (11-2) vs Mike Rodriguez (9-3(1))
Next is a fight between two guys young in their UFC careers. Jung won his debut this past August. Rodriguez "lost" a fight to John Allan Arte this past July, but it was later ruled a no contest. Both guys are solid on the feet. Jung has a granite chin, and I might give him the submission edge. I like Jung to get a big win in this one. Prediction: Da Un Jung 3rd Round Sub
Jun Yong Park (9-4) vs Marc-Andre Barriault (11-3)
Middleweight action up next between Park and Barriault. Barriault lost a split decision to Jotko in April. Park lost his UFC debut in August. Both men showed promise in their last fights. Barriault looked impressive against the ranked Jotko, and I think has has what it takes to finish Park. Prediction: Marc-Andre Barriault 3rd Round TKO
Kyung Ho Kang (16-8 (1)) vs Liu Pingyuan (13-6)
Bantamweight action kicks off the main card. Kang has looked great this year, finishing Ishihara in February and taking a split from Brandon Davis in August. Pingyuan won nine straight before falling to Jonathan Martinez in July. Neither of these guys are afraid to get into a brawl.They are pretty even on the feet, but I'd have to give Kang the advantage on the ground. This is a great fight to start off the main card, and I like Kang to get the win. Prediction: Kyung Ho Kang
Seven more fights will be on the prelim card, including a battle of ranked opponents in the Flyweight Division. Quick picks on the prelims.
Ciryl Gane (5-0) vs Tanner Boser (17-5-1) Prediction: Ciryl Gane
Seung Woo Choi (7-3) vs Suman Mokhtarian (8-1) Prediction: Suman Mokhtarian
Dong Hyun Ma (16-10-3) vs Omar Antonio Morales Ferrer (8-0) Prediction: Dong Hyun Ma
Alexandre Pantoja (21-4) (4) vs Matt Schnell (14-4) (9) Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja
Raoni Barcelos (14-1) vs Said Nurmagomedov (13-1) Prediction: Said Nurmagomedov
Miranda Granger (5-0) vs Amanda Lemos (6-1-1) Prediction: Miranda Granger
Alateng Heili (13-7-1) vs Ryan Benoit (10-5) (13) Prediction: Ryan Benoit