The Korean Zombie bests Dan Ige over five rounds to win by unanimous decision
Well-timed takedowns, grappling control on the canvas and slick striking saw Chan Sung Jung, better known as “The Korean Zombie”, earn a well-deserved unanimous decision over rising contender Dan Ige in the UFC on ESPN 25 main event on Saturday night.
The judges scored the contest 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in Jung’s favour.
Jung looked in fine form as he out-struck Ige in the opening two rounds, his most notable strike being a right hook that hurt Ige in the second, in his first fight since his defeat to Brian Ortega last October.
He ended that second round with a takedown and taking Ige’s back and repeated that sequence with plenty of time remaining in the third round, spending around three minutes in complete control of Ige on the canvas.
Sensing he was three rounds down going into the fourth, Ige aggressively went after Jung in the fourth round, but Jung did well to use his experience and cage craft to fire back when he needed to and grapple some more to take control of the bout to seal his decision win.
Sergey Spivak controls Aleksei Oleinik en route to decision win
Sergey Spivak took a decision win against Aleksei Oleinik on Saturday night in a gruelling, grappling-heavy heavyweight battle.
Submission expert Oleinik was able to drag Spivak down to the ground in the opening round and threatened with a series of submissions before the first five minutes expired, including a rear-naked choke and his signature scarf hold choke.
Spivak expertly defended his neck and limbs on the ground and that exertion of energy from Oleinik saw him battle in a fatigued state from then on.
Oleinik pulled guard in the second round but was unable to execute the ezekiel choke he’s famous for. Tired, he was on the defensive for much of the round as Spivak sat in his guard and rained down ground and pound until the horn sounded.
On the feet, Spivak clearly had the edge as Oleinik lurched forward into awkward straight punches that Moldova’s Spivak was able to counter.
An exhausted Oleinik tried to take the fight to the floor again in the final round, but Spivak was able to resist it and land in a favourable position on the mat to land more ground and pound before the end of the fight.
All three judges scored the bout 29-28 in favour of Spivak.
Marlon Vera gets decision nod in back-and-forth war with Davey Grant
Marlon Vera and Davey Grant battled for another three rounds in their rematch on Saturday night, but it was Vera who prevailed his time.
Both men were happy to exchange fire on the feet in the opening stanza, with Vera punctuating his punching combinations with a steady stream of calf kicks and Grant battering Vera’s body and head with damaging hooks.
It looked like Grant got the better of Vera in the stand-up stakes in the first five minutes, but Vera turned up the pressure in the second round.
The Ecuadorian was able to split open Grant’s head with a slashing elbow, looked composed on the feet and came out on top of the grappling scrambles, ending the round on top and landing ground and pound.
England’s Grant looked tired going into the third round and Vera appeared to have his number on the feet and on the ground against his fatigued opponent.
Vera was able to land punches, elbows and more kicks to Grant’s lead leg, and was able to stuff Grant’s takedown attempts and get in advantageous positions on the mat himself – ending the bout with a rear-naked choke attempt that exemplified how strong he got as the fight wore on.
The judges scored the contest 29-27, 29-28, 30-26 to Vera, signalling an end to Grant’s three-fight winning streak.
UFC on ESPN 25: The Korean Zombie vs. Dan Ige full results
Featherweight: Chan Sung Jung def. Dan Ige by unanimous decision after five rounds
Heavyweight: Sergey Spivak def. Aleksei Oleinik by unanimous decision after three rounds
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera def. Davey Grant by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Seung Woo Choi def. Julian Erosa by TKO (punches) at 1:37 of round one
Middleweight: Bruno Silva def. Wellington Turman by KO (punches) at 4:45 of round one
Welterweight: Matt Brown def. Dhiego Lima by KO (punch) at 3:02 of round two
Light Heavyweight: Nicolae Negumereanu def. Aleksa Camur by split decision after three rounds
Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba def. Kanako Murata by TKO (arm injury) at 5:00 of round two
Welterweight: Khaos Williams def. Matthew Semelsberger by unanimous decision after three rounds
Heavyweight: Josh Parisian def. Roque Martinez by split decision after three rounds
Lightweight: Rick Glenn def. Joaquim Silva by KO (punches) at 0:37 of round one
Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill def. Lara Procópio by Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:54 of round three
