Alexander Volkanovski won the fight via technical knockout. There is a time and a place.
Alexander Volkanovski vowed to finish Saturday night, something he has yet to do to an opponent since becoming UFCfeatherweight champion. One of the world's top fighters lived up to his promise.
The main event of UFC 273 took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday night, with Volkanovski stopping The Korean Zombie in 45 seconds of the fourth round. Volkanovski picked up his third title defense.
It was one-way traffic the whole way, with Volkanovski doing damage to Jung. Volkanovski almost finished Jung with ground and pound after dropping him at the end of the third round.
At the start of the fourth, it was obvious that referee Herb Dean was keeping an eye on Jung, who had his face marked up and his nose broken. Dean stopped Volkanovski's big combo even though Jung was still standing.
Volkanovski thought they could have stopped it earlier. That is the sport we are in.
Volkanovski is ranked fourth on the MMA pound-for-pound list. Volkanovski and Jung are the top ranked at their weight class. The originally scheduled opponent for Volkanovski was MaxHolloway, who withdrew due to injury.
Volkanovski said that everyone in his division had been saying it for a while. You are going to miss out if you don't.
Volkanovski dropped Jung with a right hand at the end of the first round and then took him off his feet with a leg kick. In the second round, it was more big for Volkanovski.
The crowd supported Jung in the third round. Volkanovski took over again. It felt like he was landing every combination he threw, including the one at the end of the round that nearly stopped Jung. It was over early in the fourth.
Jung said that he came into the fight with the most confidence of his career.
I was not tired. I was ready to leave, but I felt like I couldn't go over it.
In significant strikes, Volkanovski outlanded Jung. His best rate as a champion was 64%.
Volkanovski has won 21 in a row in his UFC career. The second-longest active winning streak in the UFC is by Kamaru Usman. Volkanovski is one of only five fighters to start his career in the UFC at 11-0 or better. Anderson Silva is one of the all-time greats.
UFC president Dana White said that Volkanovski came out and made a statement that he was the baddest dude in the division. Volkanovski looked better than he did tonight. He looked great.
Volkanovski has three successful title defenses, the last of which was against Brian Ortega at UFC 266 last September. Volkanovski won the belt at UFC 245.
Volkanovski said he could move up to lightweight to watch the lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje on May 7 in Phoenix. He left the possibility of a third fight with the man who narrowly beat Volkanovski twice. He wants to fight twice more this year.
Volkanovski said at the postfight news conference that he was showing he was ahead in this division. The lightweight division is watch out.
Jung had won three of his previous fights. The Korea native had a unanimous decision win over Dan Ige. The UFC fighter with the most time in between title fights was Jung. Aldo defeated Jung at UFC 163.
Jung said he might retire.
He said that he would have to think about it.
White said that The Korean Zombie would be missed if he hung up the gloves.
White said that the crowd in Jacksonville, Florida was chanting for him. He has put on war after war for us. He is one of the nicer humans and he is one of the most exciting fighters. I love the kid.
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