Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

There aren’t many fighters in UFC history that remained successful long-term with a reckless and wild fighting style. It’s a story we’ve all heard before, the one of the wild beast who outlasts anyone in foreign countries or in lower organizations, then gets schooled and shut down once they join the UFC. But some others stay true to their fighting style and the way they express themselves in the cage. Those legends seek to finish their opponent, there is no such thing as winning on points in their mind. The contest must be stopped for the victory to be deserved.

The Korean Zombie is one of those rare fighters. No matter what happened in his violent MMA career, he never stopped moving forward and looking to take his opponent’s soul by any means necessary. In his last ten fights, Chan-Sung Jung went the distance once, when he lost a split decision to Leonard Garcia at WEC 48. This fight is perhaps the craziest, wildest three round fight in WEC history. To this day, the Korean’s record is 15 victories (8 submissions; 5 KOs) and 5 losses (2 by KO, 1 by injury, 2 by decision). He has seven fights in the UFC (5-2) and received seven post-fight bonuses. That’s rare, only Justin Gaethje can match that ratio.

This Saturday, Chan-Sung Jung will fight Frankie Edgar in Busan. So, if you’re hungry for violence and can’t wait until the fights start, I’d suggest you come along with me while I take a look at the most violent featherweight to ever grace the octagon.

SENGOKU ZOMBIE

Chan-Sung Jung had his first six pro MMA fights in Korea and finished five of them before the end of the second round. He then signed for DREAM, the Japanese organization working to replace the void of PRIDE FC. He ended up winning the two fights he took, the second via 17-second knockout. He opened the fight with a head kick and a series of 1-2s, which were blocked by his opponent. Jung threw an inside leg kick followed by a quick right hand that was parried, but while his victim was busy parrying the right hand, he never realized that in the process Chan-Sung shifted to southpaw and covered enough distance to land a right hook, then a left on the chin that ended the fight. The Zombie changed his rhythm and intensity in a heartbeat, and this small trick was just enough to close the show.

At the time Chan-Sung Jung was 21 years old, but he was already quickly learning a lot of traps and set ups that helped him get the fight he wanted. That’s something people often miss when they watch wild fighters that constantly move forward. Zombie never fights on the same beat or repeats the same combo over and over, he has a great understanding of changing patterns.

After this quick victory he entered the 2009 Sengoku featherweight Grand Prix. In the first round he faced Shintaro Ishiwatari, who had his entire career in Japan, he fought Kyoji Horiguchi twice and currently competes in RIZIN, where he beat Ulka Sasaki last summer. Zombie started this fight at a crazy pace, at the risk of leaving himself vulnerable at times when shifting with his chin still fairly high. After being countered a few times by the skilled southpaw, The Zombie switched stances and stayed on the outside, trying to get reads on Shintaro, but without great success. However, once he started shifting again and making the Japanese athlete fight on the backfoot, he knocked him down with a big left hook on the chin. Jung was really chasing Ishiwatari at this point as he almost fell down with his opponent when the left landed. The Zombie did some work on the ground and almost secured the crucifix position, but Ishiwatari managed to escape this dangerous spot.

With only a minute left, the Zombie was rocked by a beautiful left hook, but Jung wasn’t the type to run away from adversity. Right away, he threw his left hook over Ishiwatari’s right hand. It was Ishiwatari this time who was in big trouble, and the Zombie came for him, throwing strikes that backed him up against the ropes where he lost his balance. That’s where Chan-Sung Jung saw the finish coming. As soon as Ishiwatari started to get back up, Jung slipped to his back, put the hooks in and then dove onto his back with the choke in at the same time. The brave Ishiwatari tried to fight the hands to escape the choke, but against such a skilled and determined finisher, it was hopeless. Bas Rutten and his broadcast partner, who made fun of his Zombie nickname and his style all night long, had nothing bad to say once Ishiwatari tapped.