Neither Yair Rodriguez nor Chan Sung Jung was present for post-fight interviews following UFC Fight Night 139 — and for good reason.
The featherweights were transported to a nearby hospital following their “Fight of the Year” candidate at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Saturday night. Rodriguez earned an improbable knockout victory with one second remaining in the bout when he landed a no-look, upward elbow to knock “The Korean Zombie” unconscious. Rodriguez had been on the verge of losing a decision before the highlight-reel finish.
The two combatants took time to share a moment of mutual respect and pose for a photo when they crossed paths in the emergency room after their fight. Jung posted the picture on his Instagram account Sunday. While Rodriguez initially feared he suffered a broken foot in the fight, both fighters were released and cleared of any serious injuries.
Rodriguez, who was competing for the first time since May 2017, improved to 7-1 in the promotion with his victory over Jung. Fighting for the first time since February 2017, “The Korean Zombie” fell to 4-2 in the Octagon.