| Jung Chan-sung | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jung in July 2013 | |
| Born | Jung Chan-sung (1987-03-17)March 17, 1987 (age 38) Pohang, South Korea |
| Native name | 정찬성 |
| Other names | The Korean Zombie |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg) |
| Division | Featherweight (2008–2023) Lightweight (2007) |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Seoul, South Korea |
| Team | Korean Zombie MMA Fight Ready (2019–2023)[3] |
| Rank | 3rd dan black belt inHapkido[4] 2nd dan black belt inTaekwondo[4] Black belt inJudo[4] Black belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsuunder Santino Defranco[5] |
| Years active | 2007–2023 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 17 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Subscribers | 1.1 million |
| Views | 496.8 million |
| Last updated: January 17, 2026 | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 정찬성 |
| Hanja | 鄭讚成 |
| RR | Jeong Chanseong |
| MR | Chŏng Ch'ansŏng |
Jung Chan-sung (Korean: 정찬성; born March 17, 1987), anglicized asChan Sung Jung and better known professionally asThe Korean Zombie, is a South Korean former professionalmixed martial artist best known for competing in theFeatherweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
A professional competitor since 2007, Jung had also competed forWorld Extreme Cagefighting (WEC),Pancrase,World Victory Road, andDEEP. His nickname, "The Korean Zombie", comes from his perceivedzombie-like ability to continue to move forward and fight aggressively, evenafter taking heavy blows.[6]
Born inPohang,North Gyeongsang in 1987, Jung moved toNamyangju, a satellite city of Seoul when he was in his mid-teens. Due to his slight stature and his rural origins, he was bullied constantly by his classmates and got into many fights as a result. When his aunt could no longer stand to see Jung's predicament, she took him to a nearbyhapkido gym when he was around 14 years old. Jung trained inkickboxing until his junior year of high school. He graduated fromDaegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology. Later he also began training inJudo andBrazilian Jiu Jitsu.[7]
At the age of 18, Jung joined theSouth Korean Navy and started training inTaekwondo.[8] In June 2007, he won aSambo tournament arranged by the Korean Sambo Association, and in December of the same year, he won the Lightweight division of thePancrase Korea Neo-Blood Tournament after defeating fellow South Koreans Yoo In Seok and Lee Hyung Geol.[8][9] Aged 20, Jung began mixed martial arts and made his professional debut soon after. In May 2008, he participated in and won KOREA-FC's 8-man MMA tournament in the 65 kg division.[8]Jung was also a participant in a show calledStreet Fighter in 2007, which aired on South Korean cable television. He participated in the 70 kg tournament and won. The tournament was stand-up only (similar toK-1 but not in a ring).
Jung made his professional debut in June 2007 and in December the same year, he won a Lightweight Tournament arranged byPancrase Korea. In 2008 he won both his fights for Japanese promotionDEEP. He then entered the 2009Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix where he won his first-round fight but was eliminated from the tournament by the eventual winnerMasanori Kanehara.
On August 16, 2008, he defeatedMichihiro Omigawa atDEEP: Gladiator via unanimous decision. His next fight was against Fanjin Son atDEEP: 39 Impact where he won via knockout in 17 seconds.[9]
Jung then entered the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand-Prix and was matched up with Shintaro Ishiwatari in his first-round fight atSengoku 7.[10] After dropping Ishiwatari once in stand-up striking, Jung hit Ishiwatari with a right hand forcing him to give up his back. From there Jung sunk in arear-naked choke submission forcing Ishiwatari to submit at 4:29 of the first round.[11]
In his second-round fight atSengoku 8 on May 2, 2009, he lost via unanimous decision toMasanori Kanehara officially eliminating him from the tournament.[12] The decision was considered questionable by the English commentators and many fans (especially given Sengoku's history of biased decisions against Korean fighters), who felt that Jung had done enough to deserve the decision. On June 7, 2009, it was announced Jung would face American Matt Jaggers atSengoku 9 in a reserve bout for the tournament with the winner stepping in as a replacement should some of the remaining fighters be unable to continue.[13] Jung ended up winning the fight bytriangle choke submission at 1:25 of the second round, but was not required to step in as a replacement.[14]
Chan Sung Jung then signed withWorld Extreme Cagefighting.[15] He made his American and WEC debut againstLeonard Garcia (who replaced injured opponentCub Swanson) on April 24, 2010 atWEC 48[16] losing by an extremely controversial split decision. Many MMA publications and fans (including many in theSacramento home crowd) opposed the decision, which has led again to questions about the accuracy of the fight judging.[17][18] However, the bout was awarded theFight of the Night honors, this was later declared theFight of the Year by theWrestling Observer Newsletter.
Jung next facedGeorge Roop on September 30, 2010, atWEC 51.[19] He lost the fight via knockout due to a head kick in the second round.[20]
Jung was expected to faceRani Yahya on January 22, 2011, atUFC Fight Night 23.[21] However, Jung was forced from the card with an injury.[22]
A rematch with Garcia was scheduled for March 26, 2011, atUFC Fight Night 24, after Jung stepped in to replace an injuredNam Phan.[23] Jung was able to avenge the original loss after submitting Garcia with atwister in the final second of the second round. This was the first time in the history of the UFC that a twister submission finished an opponent and the win earned Jung his firstSubmission of the Night honors. This was later awarded for theSubmission of the Year by the World MMA Awards.[24] In his post-fight interview, Jung stated he learned the move by watchingEddie Bravo videos onYouTube.[24]
Jung faced former title challengerMark Hominick on December 10, 2011, atUFC 140. Jung won the bout via KO at seven seconds of the first round, which tied a UFC record for the fastest knockout at the time.[25] Jung's victory over Mark Hominick earned him a $75,000Knockout of the Night bonus.[26] The victory also earned Jung much praise in his native South Korea, appearing on news broadcasts on the country's major national television channels (such asKBS).
Jung facedDustin Poirier on May 15, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier.[27] Jung defeated Poirier via submission in the fourth round. The performance earned JungSubmission of the Night and both participantsFight of the Night honors.[28] The bout was honored as Fight of the Year and Submission of the Year by several publications at the conclusion of 2012.[29] This fight was the first time that Jung walked out to the songZombie byThe Cranberries. He would use this for every fight thereafter.[30]
Jung was expected to faceRicardo Lamas on July 6, 2013, atUFC 162.[31] However, on June 14, it was announced that Jung had been pulled from the Lamas bout and would replace an injuredAnthony Pettis to faceJosé Aldo for theUFC Featherweight Championship on August 3, 2013, atUFC 163.[32] Aldo defeated Jung via fourth-round TKO, finishing Jung with a flurry of strikes after Jung suffered a dislocated shoulder while throwing an overhand right.[33]
Jung was expected to faceAkira Corassani on October 4, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 53.[34] However, Jung pulled out of the bout citing another injury[35] and was replaced byMax Holloway.[36]
Jung announced in mid-October 2014 his intention to begin his stint formandatory military service in his home country of South Korea. While Jung did not comment about the future upon his completion, his manager indicated that he would return to mixed martial arts at the end of the two years.[37]
In mid 2016, Jung attendedRener Gracie's inaugural Korean Super Seminar in Seoul.[38]
Jung facedDennis Bermudez on February 4, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 104.[39] He won the fight by knockout in the first round.[40] The win also won Jung his firstPerformance of the Night bonus award.[41]
Jung was expected to faceRicardo Lamas on July 29, 2017, atUFC 214.[42] However, Jung pulled out of the fight in early June citing a knee injury.[43] He was replaced byJason Knight.[44]
Jung was expected to faceFrankie Edgar on November 10, 2018 atUFC Fight Night 139.[45] However, it was reported on October 26, 2018 that Edgar was pulled from the bout due to injury and he was replaced byYair Rodríguez.[46] He lost the fight via knockout in the final second of the fifth round.[47] Both participants receivedFight of the Night honors.[48]
Jung facedRenato Moicano on June 22, 2019 atUFC Fight Night 154.[49] He won the fight via technical knockout in 58 seconds of the first round.[50] This fight earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[51]
Jung was scheduled to faceBrian Ortega on December 21, 2019 atUFC Fight Night 165.[52] However, Ortega pulled out of the fight in early December citing a knee injury[53] and he was replaced byFrankie Edgar.[54] Jung won the fight via TKO in the first round.[55] The win also earned Jung aPerformance of the Night bonus award.[56]
The bout againstBrian Ortega was rescheduled on October 18, 2020 atUFC Fight Night 180.[57] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[58]
Jung facedDan Ige on June 19, 2021 atUFC on ESPN 25.[59] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[60] Following the fight, Jung was promoted to the rank of black belt inBrazilian Jiu Jitsu.[61]
Jung challenged for theUFC Featherweight Championship for a second time againstAlexander Volkanovski atUFC 273 on April 9, 2022.[62] After being out struck and knocked down multiple times throughout the fight, Jung lost the fight via TKO early in round four.[63]
For the last time in his MMA career, Jung facedMax Holloway on August 26, 2023 atUFC Fight Night 225.[64] Jung would go on to lose to Holloway via third round KO and subsequently announced his retirement after the fight.[65] This bout earned the fighters aFight of the Night award.[66]
Jung has two daughters and one son.[87] In 2014, he married his longtime girlfriend Park Sun Young.[88]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Flex X Cop | himself | Cameo (episode 1) | [89] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | Fighter | Mentor | [90] |
| Year | Song Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Lipstick" | Lee Hi (Feat.Yoon Mirae) | [91] |
| 25 matches | 17 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 5 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17–8 | Max Holloway | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 3 | 0:23 | Kallang, Singapore | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–7 | Alexander Volkanovski | TKO (punches) | UFC 273 | April 9, 2022 | 4 | 0:45 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | For theUFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–6 | Dan Ige | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige | June 19, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–6 | Brian Ortega | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie | October 18, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 16–5 | Frankie Edgar | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 1 | 3:18 | Busan, South Korea | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–5 | Renato Moicano | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie | June 22, 2019 | 1 | 0:58 | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–5 | Yair Rodríguez | KO (elbow) | UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | November 10, 2018 | 5 | 4:59 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–4 | Dennis Bermudez | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie | February 4, 2017 | 1 | 2:49 | Houston, Texas, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 13–4 | José Aldo | TKO (punches) | UFC 163 | August 3, 2013 | 4 | 2:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | For theUFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–3 | Dustin Poirier | Technical Submission (D'Arce choke) | UFC on Fuel TV: The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier | May 15, 2012 | 4 | 1:07 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | Submission of the Night. Fight of the Night. Submission of the Year. |
| Win | 12–3 | Mark Hominick | KO (punches) | UFC 140 | December 10, 2011 | 1 | 0:07 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 11–3 | Leonard Garcia | Submission (twister) | UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis | March 26, 2011 | 2 | 4:59 | Seattle, Washington, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–3 | George Roop | KO (head kick) | WEC 51 | September 30, 2010 | 2 | 1:30 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Leonard Garcia | Decision (split) | WEC 48 | April 24, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Matt Jaggers | Submission (triangle choke) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9 | August 2, 2009 | 2 | 1:25 | Saitama, Japan | 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Reserve bout. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Masanori Kanehara | Decision (unanimous) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 8 | May 2, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals. |
| Win | 9–0 | Shintaro Ishiwatari | Submission (rear-naked choke) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 7 | March 20, 2009 | 1 | 4:29 | Tokyo, Japan | 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix 1st round. |
| Win | 8–0 | Fanjin Son | KO (punch) | Deep: 39 Impact | December 10, 2008 | 1 | 0:17 | Okayama, Japan | |
| Win | 7–0 | Michihiro Omigawa | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: Gladiator | August 16, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Okayama, Japan | |
| Win | 6–0 | Jung-Hun Cho | Decision (unanimous) | Korea FC | May 31, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Gangwon Province, South Korea | Won the Korea FC 65 kg Tournament. |
| Win | 5–0 | Dae-Han Choi | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:38 | Korea FC 65 kg Tournament Semifinal. | |||
| Win | 4–0 | Jung-Beom Choi | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:15 | Featherweight debut. Korea FC 65 kg Tournament Quarterfinal. | |||
| Win | 3–0 | Hyung-Geol Lee | TKO (punches) | Pancrase: 2007 Korea Neo-Blood Tournament | December 16, 2007 | 1 | 3:27 | Busan, South Korea | Won the Pancrase Korea Neo-Blood Lightweight Tournament. |
| Win | 2–0 | In-Seok Yoo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:34 | Pancrase Korea Neo-Blood Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. | |||
| Win | 1–0 | Hyung-Geol Lee | Submission (reverse armbar) | Super Sambo Festival | June 24, 2007 | 2 | 3:07 | Gyeongju, South Korea | Lightweight debut. |
| No | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 163 | Aldo vs. Korean Zombie | August 3, 2013 | HSBC Arena | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 180,000[93] |
| 2. | UFC 273 | Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie | April 9, 2022 | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Not Disclosed[94] |
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2022 | Best New Male Entertainer | Fighter Club | Nominated | [95] |
경북 포항에서 태어난 정찬성은 중학교 2학년 때 경기도 남양주로 이사했다.작고 빼빼 말랐던 정찬성은 종종 시비에 말려들곤 했다. "자꾸 촌놈이라고 놀렸어요. 제가 자존심이 세서 자주 싸웠는데, 늘 졌지요. 체격이 상대가 안 됐어요. 하하." 보다 못한 이모가 정찬성을 끌고 합기도장에 갔다. 그전까지 운동을 한 번도 배운 적이 없었던 정찬성은 어느새 격투의 매력에 빠져들었다.