Ortega vs Jung is Guaranteed Fireworks

Fight Island once again is holding a very intriguing bout as submission specialist Brian “T-City” Ortega returns after taking almost two years off, but he’ll have a difficult task in front of him as he takes on a rejuvenated Chan Sung Jung, better known to fans as “The Korean Zombie.”

Ortega, currently ranked No. 2, hasn’t been seen in the octagon since his losing effort against then-champion Max Holloway that saw Ortega lose his undefeated record and also take a beating for four rounds. Ring-side doctors had to call off the fight after the fourth round. Before the loss, Ortega was 14-0 and putting on very entertaining fights. Some fights he was losing, but would comeback in the final round to finish the fight.

Ortega’s jump in the rankings came when the young prospect took on seasoned veteran Cub Swanson in December 2017. Ortega was close to securing a submission at the end of the first round, but Swanson got saved by the bell. Ortega was determined to get the finish early and pulled a guillotine choke on Swanson while Swanson was still standing, and Ortega readjusted the choke in mid-air and forced Swanson to tap out.

Ortega’s biggest rise to fame saw him take a short-notice fight against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 222. The big storyline going into this fight was Edgar had never been finished in his career. He’s taken a few beatings, but never been finished, and people thought if Ortega were to finish Edgar, it would be by submitting Edgar.

What a surprise it was when submission specialist Ortega ended up knocking out Edgar in the first round to secure himself a title shot against Holloway. The title fight didn’t go Ortega’s way, but he’s still determined to get back in the win column and become champion one day.

Jung, currently ranked No. 4, is one of the most exciting fighters currently with the UFC. Jung got his nickname “The Korean Zombie” by taking heavy shots to the head and continue pushing forward as if nothing happened. Jung is tied for the third-fastest knockout in UFC history when he knocked out Mark Hominick in just seven seconds.

Jung is currently riding a two-fight win streak after getting knocked out with one second remaining in a five-round fight he was winning against Yair Rodriquez. Rodriquez threw a Hail Mary ducking elbow and somehow connected on Jung to knock him out cold.

Jung said he’s never had a head coach, so after the loss to Rodriquez, he teamed up with Eric Albarracin, who’s known for coaching fighters such as Henry Cejudo and Patricio Freire. Both fighters became double champs - Cejudo in the UFC and Freire in Bellator. Since teaming up with Albarracin, Jung has been on a tear, first knocking out featherweight contender Renato Moicano in just 58 seconds, and then TKO’ing Edgar in the first round in his home country of Busan, South Korea.

Jung really impressed me in this fight because every punch he threw was thrown so fast and it didn’t look like a single punch missed. Jung was very sharp that night and looks to be improving drastically every time he steps into the octagon. Jung is known for putting on exciting fights with blood going everywhere, and Ortega has even said he hopes Abu Dhabi has good hospitals, because - after their fight on Saturday - both men will be in there.

UFC president Dana White has stated that whoever wins this fight, will be the No. 1 contender to fight for the belt next, so expect to see Ortega and Jung go to war. I expect Jung to continue on his path of destruction and finish Ortega by third round TKO. Catch all of the amazing fights this Saturday on ESPN+!

Tidwell record: 6-4