The UFC returns one week after a monumental UFC 263 as UFC Fight Night takes place on Saturday from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nev.
The main event features a battle of top ten featherweights as No. 4-ranked Chan Sung Jung takes on No. 8-ranked Dan Ige.
Jung, famously known as The Korean Zombie, makes his 2021 debut after losing via unanimous decision to Brian Ortega in October. The former featherweight title challenger is 2-2 in his last four contests and is in dire need of a win if he wants to remain in the championship hunt. Jung says if he takes an excessive amount of punishment as he did in the Ortega fight, then it could be the end of his career.
"I figured out my weaknesses that Dan Ige thinks of myself and melted them into my training. I got hit a lot of elbows," Jung told members of the Korean media at the end of May. "If I get hit with an elbow this time, and I lose, I might have to consider retirement."
Ige reeled off six consecutive wins to insert himself into the conversation at 145 pounds. The win streak got derailed at the hands of Calvin Kattar in July. He redeemed himself with a 22-second knockout of Gavin Tucker in March. Ige feels if he comes out on the right side of things on Saturday, he'll vault into a top contender in a deep featherweight division.
"It's the fight that's going to propel me to the next level," Ige told MMA Junkie. "It's the fight that's going to put me into the top five. It's going to put me into that title contention range, and 'The Korean Zombie' is a legend. So I want to face household names like 'Zombie' (Edson) Barboza. I want to have these guys on my resume, and 'The Korean Zombie' is a guy I watched forever."
Who remains on the tongues of people's minds when it comes to top contenders at 145 pounds?
Here is everything you need to know about UFC Fight Night: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dan Ige.
UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige start time
- Date: Saturday, June 19
- Main card: 7:00 p.m. ET/Midnight BST
- Main event: 10:15 p.m. ET/3:15 a.m. BST
UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige takes place on Saturday night with the prelims launching at 4 p.m. ET/9 p.m. BST and the main card kicking off at 7 p.m. ET. That spells a Midnight start for the UK. Jung vs. Ige should make their walks to the Octagon at approximately 10:15 p.m., although that depends on the lengths of the previous bouts.
UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige TV channel and live stream
- U.S. : ESPN 2/ESPN+
- U.K.: BT Sport 1
In the United States, the UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige prelims can be seen in its entiriety on ESPN 2 and via live stream on ESPN+
In the U.K., the event can be seen on BT Sport 1.
More details about how to watch in other countries can be found at UFC.com.
Where is UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige?
Jung vs. Ige will be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Jung competes at the home of the UFC for the first time while Ige fights at the venue for the second time.
UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige fight odds
Bet MGM (as of June 14) has tabbed Jung as a very small favorite at -115, meaning a $115 bet will land you $100. Ige is listed as a -105 underdog, signaling that a $105 bet would net $100 if he's victorious Saturday night.
Chan Sung Jung and bio
- Nationality: South Korean
- Born: March 17, 1987
- Height: 5-9
- Reach: 72 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 15-6
Dan Ige record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: August 6, 1991
- Height: 5-7
- Reach: 71 inches
- Total fights: 18
- Record: 15-3
UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige card
Main card
- Chan Sung Jung vs. Dan Ige; Featherweight
- Aleksei Oleinik vs. Sergey Spivak; Heavyweight
- Tim Means vs. Danny Roberts; Welterweight
- Marlon Vera vs. Davey Grant; Bantamweight
- Wellington Turman vs. Bruno Silva; Middleweight
- Matt Brown vs. Dhiego Lima; Welterweight
Preliminary card
- Virna Jandiroba vs. Kanako Murata; Women's Strawweight
- Julian Erosa vs. Seung Woo Choi; Featherweight
- Josh Parisian vs. Roque Martinez; Heavyweight
- Joaquim Silva vs. Rick Glenn; Lightweight
- Casey O'Neill vs. Lara Procópio; Women's Flyweight