If there was any disappointment in having to face a late substitute as an opponent on Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski never showed it. Instead, the defending featherweight champion used UFC 273 as a canvas to paint his career masterpiece.
Volkanovski (24-1) appeared as sharp and powerful as ever, using his great speed advantage to break Chang Sung Jung (17-7) at will until a stoppage by referee Herb Dean at 45 seconds into Round 4 den Title fight came to a merciful end at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jung, the popular South Korean brawler nicknamed “The Korean Zombie,” replaced Max Holloway in January after the former champion cut short his trilogy fight against Volkanovski with injury. Although Jung set a record for the most time between title fights after unsuccessfully attempting to unseat Jose Aldo in 2013, he simply never was in the fight against Volkanovski.
Indeed, Jung’s face remained a grotesque mixture of blood, scratches and bruises sustained along the way.
“I told you all before this fight that I’m on a different level now and I can’t be stopped,” Volkanovski said. “I showed you all. He actually took more beatings than I wanted, but that’s only part of the game.
“I just have the urge to get better. to always be better. You can be better anywhere. Have that urge and that motivation and just look for ways to improve and do it.”
Volkanovski, a 33-year-old Australian native, made his third defense of the title he won against Holloway in 2019. He beautifully blended calf strikes with punch combos, and routinely buzzed or dropped Jung with almost every big power shot.
Jung, 35, asked after the fight if he was considering retirement.
“I’ve been the most confident of my entire career,” Jung said. “I wasn’t tired and ready to go, but it felt like I hit a wall I couldn’t get over.
“After every loss I always think about leaving the Octagon and this MMA game, but I’ll need more time to think about it and see if I’m going to keep fighting. I have to think about it.”
The fight could have easily been stopped after the third round after Jung was dropped late with a right cross and nearly succumbed to an aggressive bottom and a pound from Volkanovski. Although the cage doctor, who examined him before the start of round four, allowed Jung to continue fighting, it only took Dean a few more combinations to step in. Although Volkanovski afterwards conceded that a trilogy against Holloway could still be in the cards, he sent a message to the rest of the department.
“Obviously there was a fight that should be set up for this one. Let’s see what the UFC says,” Volkanovski said. “But hey, everyone in my department, I’ve been saying this for a while. Pull yourself together, earn first place and you get it. If not, you’re going to fucking miss it. As simple as that.”
CBS Sports was with you all the way on Saturday, bringing you all the results and highlights from UFC 273 below.
UFC 273 Map and Results
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) defeated. Chan Sung Jung via fourth-round TKO (punches)
- Aljamain Sterling (c) def. Petr Yan via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
- Khamzat Chimaev defeated. Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mackenzie Dern defeated. Tecia Torres by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Defeated Mark Madsen. Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Ian Garry defeated. Darian Weeks by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Anthony Hernandez defeated. Josh Fremd by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Raquel Pennington defeated. Aspen Ladd by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mike Malott defeated. Mickey Gall via first round TKO (punches)
- Aleksey Oleinik defeated. Jared Vanderaa on First Round Submission (Neck Crank)
- Piera Rodriguez defeated. Kay Hansen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Defeated Julio Arce. Daniel Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)