The Korean Zombie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jung Chan-sung |
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Jung in July 2013
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| Born | Jung Chan-sung March 17, 1987 Pohang, South Korea |
| Native name | 정찬성 |
| Other names | The Korean Zombie |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg) |
| Division | Featherweight (2008–2023) Lightweight (2007) |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Seoul, South Korea |
| Team | Korean Zombie MMA Fight Ready (2019–2023) |
| Rank | 3rd dan black belt in Hapkido 2nd dan black belt in Taekwondo Black belt in Judo Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Santino Defranco |
| Years active | 2007–2023 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 17 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
정찬성
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| Hanja |
鄭讚成
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| RR | Jeong Chanseong |
| MR | Chŏng Ch'ansŏng |
Jung Chan-sung (Hangul: 정찬성; born March 17, 1987), also known as Chan Sung Jung, is a famous South Korean former professional mixed martial artist. He is widely known by his exciting nickname, The Korean Zombie.
Jung competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was a professional fighter from 2007 to 2023. His nickname, The Korean Zombie, came from his amazing ability to keep moving forward and fighting hard, even when he took strong hits.
Contents
Jung's Early Life and Training
Growing Up in South Korea
Jung Chan-sung was born in Pohang, South Korea, in 1987. When he was a teenager, he moved to Namyangju, a city near Seoul. Because he was smaller and from a rural area, he was often picked on by other kids. This led to him getting into many fights.
Starting Martial Arts Training
When Jung was about 14 years old, his aunt took him to a Hapkido gym. Hapkido is a Korean martial art that teaches self-defense. He also trained in Kickboxing until he was in his junior year of high school. Later, he started learning Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which are other forms of martial arts.
At 18, Jung joined the South Korean Navy and began training in Taekwondo. In June 2007, he won a Sambo tournament. Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. In December of the same year, he won a Lightweight tournament in Pancrase Korea. This was a big step for him.
Jung started his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career when he was 20. In May 2008, he won an 8-man MMA tournament in the 65 kg division. He also appeared on a South Korean TV show called Street Fighter in 2007, where he won a 70 kg stand-up fighting tournament.
Jung's Mixed Martial Arts Journey
Starting His Professional Career
Jung began his professional MMA journey in June 2007. He quickly showed his talent by winning a Lightweight Tournament in Pancrase Korea that same year. In 2008, he won both of his fights for a Japanese fighting group called DEEP. He then joined the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix. He won his first fight but was later eliminated from the tournament.
Fighting in Sengoku
In the Sengoku Featherweight Grand-Prix, Jung faced Shintaro Ishiwatari. He won this fight by using a move called a rear-naked choke, which made his opponent give up. In his next fight, he lost to Masanori Kanehara. Many fans and commentators thought Jung should have won this fight. Later, he won another fight in Sengoku against Matt Jaggers using a triangle choke submission.
Joining World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
Jung then signed with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), a big fighting organization in the United States. His first fight there was against Leonard Garcia in April 2010. Jung lost this fight in a very close and debated decision. However, their fight was so exciting that it was named the Fight of the Night and even the Fight of the Year by some experts.
His next WEC fight was against George Roop in September 2010, where he lost by a head kick.
Becoming a UFC Star
Jung joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is the biggest MMA organization in the world.
First UFC Wins and Special Moves
In March 2011, Jung had a rematch with Leonard Garcia. This time, Jung won by using a very rare move called a twister submission. This was the first time anyone had ever won a UFC fight with a twister! This win earned him the Submission of the Night award and was later named the Submission of the Year. Jung shared that he learned this move from watching videos online.
In December 2011, Jung fought Mark Hominick. He won this fight by knockout in just seven seconds, which was one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history at the time! This victory earned him a Knockout of the Night bonus and made him very popular in South Korea.
Memorable Fights and Awards
Jung faced Dustin Poirier in May 2012. He won this exciting fight by submission in the fourth round. This performance earned him Submission of the Night and both fighters received Fight of the Night honors. Many publications called this fight the Fight of the Year and Submission of the Year for 2012. From this fight onwards, Jung always walked out to the song "Zombie" by The Cranberries, which became his signature entrance music.
Challenging for the UFC Title
In August 2013, Jung got a chance to fight for the UFC Featherweight Championship against José Aldo. Unfortunately, Jung lost this fight in the fourth round after he dislocated his shoulder.
Military Service and Return
In late 2014, Jung took a break from fighting to complete his mandatory military service in South Korea. He returned to the UFC in February 2017 and won his fight against Dennis Bermudez by knockout in the first round. This win earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus.
Later Career and Retirement
Jung continued to have many exciting fights. In November 2018, he had a memorable fight against Yair Rodríguez, which he lost in the very last second of the fifth round. Both fighters received Fight of the Night honors for their amazing performance.
He later had impressive wins against Renato Moicano in June 2019 and Frankie Edgar in December 2019, both by technical knockout in the first round. These wins earned him Performance of the Night awards.
In October 2020, he fought Brian Ortega and lost by decision. In June 2021, he won against Dan Ige by decision. After this fight, he earned his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
In April 2022, Jung challenged for the UFC Featherweight Championship again, this time against Alexander Volkanovski. He lost the fight in the fourth round.
Jung's final MMA fight was against Max Holloway in August 2023. He lost this fight by knockout in the third round. After the fight, Jung announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, ending a remarkable career. This final bout also earned him a Fight of the Night award.
Jung's Achievements and Awards
Jung Chan-sung received many awards and honors throughout his career:
- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
- Submission of the Night (Two times)
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Fight of the Night (Three times)
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
- He holds the record for the fastest knockout in UFC Featherweight division history (0:07 seconds).
- He was the first fighter in UFC history to win with a Twister submission.
- World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)
- Fight of the Night (One time)
- Other Awards
- He won the Korea FC 65 kg Tournament.
- He won the Pancrase Korea Neo-Blood Lightweight Tournament.
- He won Fight of the Year awards from various sports news outlets in 2010, 2012, and 2018.
- He won Submission of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
Jung's Personal Life
Jung Chan-sung is married to Park Sun Young, and they have two daughters and one son.
Jung in Television
Jung has also appeared on television:
- In 2024, he had a cameo appearance as himself in the TV series Flex X Cop.
- From 2022 to 2023, he was a mentor on a TV show called Fighter.
- In 2021, he appeared in the music video for the song "Lipstick" by Lee Hi.
Images for kids
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Jung in July 2013
See also
In Spanish: Jung Chan-sung para niños
