Max
Holloway recently expressed gratitude to Chan Sung
Jung for being an important part of his career.
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Two of the biggest fan favorites in the sport, Holloway and “The
Korean Zombie” were extremely respectful toward each other even
before sharing the Octagon. And they have since developed a
friendship, which was on display during Holloway’s recent visit to
South Korea.
Holloway was seen sparring with a teammate of Jung at the Korean
Zombie gym, where they re-enacted his iconic slugfest with Justin
Gaethje. “Blessed” then shared his respect for former rival
Jung, whom he idolized growing up. Holloway also urged fans to
lookout for his YouTube videos featuring him and his wife Alessa
proving swimming lessons to Jung.
“I looked up to this man. When I was in high school I watched him
fight many times,” Holloway said. “This guy’s an inspiration,
without a ‘Korean Zombie’ there wouldn’t be a Max
Holloway. So at the end of the day I’m super grateful for him
and his career… I was glad I was able to share the Octagon with
this man. Like I said, we’ve created a friendship. You guys watch
out, YouTube, Max
Holloway and Alessa Holloway teach ‘Korean Zombie’ how to
swim.”
Jung missed out on a major part of his career from 2013 to 2017 due
to mandatory military service in South Korea. He has since
consistently faced top-tier competition, going back and forth
before hanging up his gloves in 2023 while on a two-fight skid.
Holloway knocked out Jung in his retirement fight in the UFC Fight
Night 225 headliner in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Holloway since won a BMF title fight with a b knockout
over Justin
Gaethje and then suffered his first career knockout loss in a
title fight with Ilia
Topuria. Holloway is now scheduled for a trilogy against
Dustin
Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19 at the Smoothie Kings Center in
New Orleans, Louisiana, which be “The Diamond’s” retirement fight
in front of his home crowd.