In a featherweight bout in the main event, Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung meet at UFC on ESPN+ 38 Saturday at the UFC’s Fight Island facility in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The prelims kick off at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the main card set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Ortega (14-1) is looking to bounce back after a TKO and Doctor’s Stoppage against Max Holloway last time out in a title fight at UFC 231 on Dec. 8, 2018. Not only did Ortega lose the strap, but he ended up losing nearly two years of his career, suffering a knee injury since that fight. These two were supposed to meet on in December 2019, but that fight was pushed back due to the ailment.
Sung Jung (16-5), better known as “The Korean Zombie,” has been waiting a while to get his hooks into Ortega. During UFC 248, Ortega got into an altercation with Jay Park, the co-manager and interpreter for Sung Jung. That has added some extra anticipation in this budding rivalry, as both fighters look for a win to position themselves for a shot against Alexander Volkanovski for all of the marbles in the featherweight class. The Korean Zombie has seen all eight of his fights at the UFC level end inside the distance, including five straight KO/TKO results (3-2). That includes a pair of first-round knockout wins over Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano.
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Brian Ortega vs. Chan Sung Jung betting odds
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:22 a.m. ET.
SUNG JUNG (-200) is a little more expensive than I normally care to risk, but I feel confident in The Korean Zombie’s ability to not only win this one, but win it early. As such, going with UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (-189) is looking pretty good. In addition, SUNG JUNG BY KO/TKO, DQ or SUBMISSION (+105) at just a little better than even-money is also a very good play.
If you’re not feeling a specific winner, but want a good play, going with KO/TKO/DQ (-112) for the fight finish is also a good bet.
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Also see:
- UFC on ESPN+ 38 predictions (MMA Junkie)
- UFC on ESPN+ 38: 5 burning questions (MMA Junkie)
- MMA Junkie – The latest UFC/MMA coverage
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