While UFC 248 What’s taking place inside the octagon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Nevada, there was also some action in the crowd as well with UFC featherweight Brian Ortega, and the crew of The “Korean Zombie” a.k.a.Chan Sung Jung.
The beef stems from a trash-talking incident from one of Jung’s managers Jay Park. Ortega broke down his side of the story on Facebook.
- “On May 9, 2018, Jay Park signed Korean Zombie to a management contract under AOMG Entertainment, of which Park is the CEO, and soon after the trash-talking began. When I finally made it to Korea for the press conference, KZ approached me with his translator (a real one, not Jay Park) and said, “I want to apologize for the trash-talking, it was my management that wants to do it to promote the fight.” I accepted his apology, shook his hand and we had a great press conference. Soon after I tore my knee, and the fight got canceled. Four weeks ago, KZ and JP, went on Ariel’s show and said I dodged the fight. “Dodging” and “injury” are two separate things, and since I already knew JP was the one writing the script, that’s when I welcomed him to the fight game and warned him to watch his mouth.
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On Saturday night, I slapped three people a the same time. I apologize for slapping the “translator,” and I apologize for slapping the “K-pop star,” but I don’t apologize for slapping the instigator.”
Ortega admitted his assault publicly, and with a police report being filed at the arena after the incident by Jung’s team. I question why Ortega put a statement on social media. However, I respect him being honest about what took place.
Jung had some choice words for Ortega and used social media to convey his feelings and take on the situation.
“Last night, you sat 10 meters away from me and Jay Park. For two hours nothing happened, so I thought everything was fine. But you fucking attacked Jay Park while I went to the bathroom. Jay Park is not a professional fighter but a musician. You slapped a civilian who merely helped translate.
“Even worse, you were sitting there waiting until I would be absent and attacked Jay Park. It was not a fight like real men would do. What you have done is same as a grown up to beat a child. You should have attacked me. If so, I would have not been upset.
“You are such a coward for slapping a musician not a fighter. If you fucking planned this to fight me and to use my name because people don’t remember your name anymore, then I congratulate you, it worked. I will fight you and I will knock you out and your fucking face will be bloody.
“Now, your fucking face stays in my mind and I will fuck you up in the cage. I hope you won’t run away from me again.”
From my understanding, Jung is actually managed by Jason House of Iridium Sports Management as well as AOMG. While House and Iridium have a stellar reputation in the industry, I am not familiar with Park and AOMG. It seems as if Park wants to follow in the footsteps of Dominance MMA Management’s CEO Ali Abdelaziz, you know running his mouth, being controversial, and putting himself in the line of fire with fighters who can, and will get physical if they feel the need to. Park, unlike Abdelaziz, has no training in any discipline of mixed martial arts, at least Abdelaziz can defend himself if his mouth writes a check that his ass may have to cash!
These two were slated to fight before and as Ortega stated he was injured so the fight was canceled. With the heat on this bout now, I am expecting a rebooking very soon provided Ortega is healthy and not in jail for the assault. Yes, it’s highly unlikely he will do any time, but it is a possibility.
Jung has always been low-key and all business when it comes to his fighting career. However, this incident has brought the zombie’s rage to life as I have never seen before. I am intrigued by this side of his persona and curious how it will translate into the octagon when he faces Ortega!
Incidents like this between fighters and those in the game that are not fighters is not a good look for the sport as a whole. With that being said, if you are going to talk smack to a professional fighter, then you should be prepared to deal with the possibility that you may just get punched in the face for doing so. It may not be right, It may not be cool, but this is the fight game and that’s how it’s played!
Christopher James has been in the MMA industry for 15 years, Working as a ring announcer for promotions like the XFC, Island Fights, Combat Night and Fight Nights Global during his career. Chris’ love for the sport and the athletes that partake in it led him to writing and doing face to face interviews with the athletes he admired and respected. Chris isn’t conventional by any stretch of the imagination, he has his own style, and takes pride in not being a “cookie-cutter” member of the media. Unique and sometimes controversial takes are what he brings to the table, forcing folks to think a little differently about the world of MMA. He also has a love for music as he has been a dj for 25 years and his love for music gets brought to the MMA world when he gets his guests to sing on his weekly show Cage Side with Christopher James which can be seen Wednesday nights on FACEBOOK LIVE, and soon via podcast.