The Korean Zombie (real name Chan Sung Jung) has officially announced his retirement from the world of mixed martial arts. This decision came on the heels of a knockout loss to Max Holloway at the UFC Singapore event, marking the end of an iconic career that spanned 16 years.
Chan Sung Jung embarked on his professional MMA journey back in 2007. Over the years, he became a prominent figure in the sport and joined the UFC ranks in 2011.
With a career that saw him compete in 25 bouts, Jung compiled a record of 17 wins and 8 losses. Throughout his career, TKZ showcased his diverse skills, securing eight victories via submission, Six of them were through knockout, and three by decision.
Following his third-round knockout defeat in Singapore, Chan Sung Jung retired from the Octagon by placing his gloves at the center of the octagon. It was a heartfelt moment that resonated with fans worldwide, signifying the end of an era.
In an emotional farewell message shared on his YouTube channel, Jung disclosed an intriguing incident that occurred after the match. He also told a fascinating story about what happened to his retiring gloves in the video.
Jung revealed that he held his gloves in his left hand when he greeted supporters and walked backstage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Sadly, one of them was taken by someone in the audience.
Jung had originally intended to keep both gloves as a cherished memento of his remarkable career. But he decided to throw the remaining glove into the audience.
The Korean Zombie’s story quickly gained traction on social media platforms, particularly on the Reddit community r/ufc. Fans expressed their sorrow and was enraged at the person who stole the gloves.
One fan commented: “Hope the person who stole his gloves gets hemorrhoids”
Another wrote: “TKZ should come out of retirement just to beat this guys a**”
Someone else wrote: “Man, some people have no respect”
Another fan: “S**t like this is why i have no faith in humanity. Its the small things that speak the loudest.”
After the match, Max Holloway had nothing but praise for ‘The Korean Zombie.’ During the conference after the match at UFC Singapore, Holloway commended Jung’s indomitable spirit and referred to him as a legend.
He said: “Legend, the dude’s a Zombie. I hit him in the second, I thought I had him out he kept coming back and I was like, ‘oh my gosh what’s going on’, and next thing I know he’s in the third round. And then I hit him with that in the third round and I got him but he got up pretty fast too after that.”
Holloway went on to say: “He never ever wanted to die on his shield he’s always wanted to die on his sword and that’s why people love The Korean Zombie. That’s why I love him.”