JACKSONVILLE, FL – Alexander Volkanovsky vowed to complete Saturday evening, one thing he has but to do for an opponent since changing into the Final Combating Championship featherweight champion. Among the finest fighters on this planet has stored his promise.
Volkanovsky stopped “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung by way of TKO (punches) in 45 seconds of the fourth spherical at UFC 273 primary occasion right here at VyStar Veterans Memorial Area. With the win, Volkanovsky picked up his third protection of the featherweight title.
It was one-way visitors all the way in which, with Volkanovsky doing injury to Jung every spherical. Volkanovsky dropped Jung on the finish of the third spherical and practically completed him off with a floor and a pound.
Initially of the fourth spherical, referee Herb Dean was clearly watching Younger, whose face was badly mottled and his nostril seemed damaged. When Volkanovsky landed a giant group early within the fourth, Dean stepped in to cease it despite the fact that Jung was nonetheless standing.
“He really took much more than I wished,” Volkanovsky stated in his interview after the battle. “I assumed they might have stopped it earlier. That is the game we’re in.”
ESPN ranked Volkanovski at quantity 4 on their MMA listing for pound-for-pound. In featherweight, Volkanovsky took first place and Younger quantity 9. Max Holloway, whom Volkanovsky defeated twice in title fights, was the initially scheduled contender earlier than withdrawing as a consequence of harm.
“Everybody in my division, I have been saying that for some time,” Volkanovsky stated. “Collect your gadgets collectively and win first place. For those who do not, you may miss out.”
Volkanovsky knocked Jung down along with his proper hand on the finish of the primary spherical after which knocked him off his toes once more with a leg kick proper after that. Then extra massive teams for Volkanovski got here within the second.
Jung, who was nicely obtained by the followers, began the third spherical sizzling. However quickly Volkanovsky once more took cost. He appeared to land on each set he threw, together with one on the finish of the spherical that just about stopped Jung. As early because the fourth, it was over.
“I have been extra assured all through my complete profession,” Younger stated. “I wasn’t drained. I used to be able to go. However I felt like I had a wall I could not get previous.”
Volkanovsky (24-1) received 11 in a row to start out his UFC profession and 21 in a row. The Australian-born fighter defended his title towards Brian Ortega by unanimous resolution at UFC 266 final September and now has three profitable defenses. Volkanovsky, 33, defeated Holloway to win the belt at UFC 245 in December 2019.
Jung (17-7) had received three of his earlier 4 fights within the match. The South Korean-born fighter was abandoning a unanimous resolution on Dan Iiji final June. Jung, 35, topped Dan Henderson on Saturday because the UFC fighter with essentially the most time between title fights. Younger misplaced to Jose Aldo at UFC 163 on August 3, 2013.
After the final match, Younger stated he may take into account retiring.
“I ought to give it some thought,” he stated.
