Chan Sung Jung admits he is struggling to adapt to life as a retired UFC fighter.
The former featherweight prospect – better known as 'The Korean Zombie' – fought Jose Aldo, Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski and a number of other MMA stars during his incredible 17-8 run in the sport.
Jung left his UFC career after suffering a knockout loss to Max Holloway in August 2023.
16 months later, the 37-year-old has revealed how he feels about never fighting again.
The Korean zombie has announced his retirement from MMA. | IMAGE Jasmin Frank/USA Today Network
The Korean zombie talks about retirement
Chan Sung Jung recently opened up about his short stint away from the Octagon.
“I miss it all the time,” he said during an interview with MMA Fighting.
“The other day I was sitting in Doo Ho Choi's corner during his fight, and the whole time I was thinking, 'Man, I want to get back in there too.'
“I think that's just what it's like when you're a fighter. It will be in your blood for the rest of your life.”
Despite missing MMA, 'The Korean Zombie' seriously doubts he will ever return to the cage.
Still, he is open to participating in other types of martial arts competitions – but only if the right opportunity presents itself.
He added: “I can't say for sure, but I don't think I would return to MMA.
“I've always been open to boxing or wrestling matches, though.
“It would be cool to have something happen at a Z-Fight Night event someday. Who knows?”
The Korean Zombie becomes a promoter
Jung remains busy after his retirement. The fan favorite fighter has launched his own fighting league.
Z Fight Night has its second event on Saturday evening. Dana White was scheduled to attend a scouting mission, but political unrest in South Korea prompted the UFC boss to announce he would not be able to travel there.
Regardless, 'The Korean Zombie' is happy with the MMA mogul's support.
“After retiring, I was looking for something exciting to do, and getting promoted was one of the options I had in mind,” Jung explains.
“After officially onboarding UFC Fight Pass for my promotion, I realized this could be a great opportunity to contribute to the growth of Asian and Korean MMA.
“To be honest, I never wanted to get promoted while I was actively fighting. Dealing with people is always a challenge, and fighters can be particularly difficult to deal with. But I thought if I used my fighting career and spoke to fighters from the heart, they would trust me and follow my lead. That convinced me to do it.
“It's been fun so far. Having UFC and Dana White supporting me has been a huge help. Of course I worry about a lot of things, but it reminds me of when I first started fighting and building my career. Thinking about how Z-Fight Night will grow by the time we host our 10th event keeps me motivated and excited.”
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