Max Holloway returns this weekend in the UFC Singapore main event against The Korean Zombie. One of the most decorated and well-loved fighters in the sport will look to put on another clinic, but win or lose, fight fans will be eager to see what venture ‘Blessed’ will pursue next.
Max Holloway vs. TKZ in Singapore
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the future holds for Max Holloway and his illustrious career. Once a dominant force at featherweight, the former champion was dethroned by the brilliant Alexander Volkanovski. The Australian is widely regarded as one of the best to ever compete, and seemingly has Max’s number after defeating him three times. However, a fourth fight isn’t completely off the table, especially if Holloway continues to take out rising contenders.
Chan Sung Jung, also known as The Korean Zombie, is hardly a rising contender though. The 36-year-old has competed in the UFC since 2011, and even fought Jose Aldo for the featherweight title back in 2013. He lost the bout, and soon after he was called up to complete mandatory military service for his country of South Korea. Since his return, it has been a mixed bag for TKZ. He was utterly outclassed by the champion Volkanovski in his last outing, and at 36 he is certainly slowing down.
The matchup with Holloway has raised some eyebrows. TKZ has taken a lot of damage over the years, not unlike Holloway himself. The difference is the Hawaiian is only 31 even though it seems he has been around forever. Despite the losses to Volkanovski, ‘Blessed’ doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The consensus is that Holloway will be too much for Zombie and this could be a shutout performance.
What’s Next for ‘Blessed’?
Whether Holloway wins or loses on Saturday, it’s still unclear what his next move will be. Even with a win here, it is very unlikely he will get another crack at Volkanovski. Looking around the featherweight division, you will see a long list of names that Holloway has already beaten. The only name that stands out is Ilia Topuria, but it looks as if he will be getting the next title shot against Volkanovski. If Volk wins and Max gets past TKZ, we could see that matchup. In the event that Topuria shocks the world and take the title, Holloway might get another opportunity for gold sooner than we thought.
The Lightweight Division
It’s all speculation from here. Now may be the time for Holloway to consider moving up to lightweight and trying his hand there. He fought well against Dustin Poirier in their interim lightweight title fight, but the difference in power was apparent. If Holloway manages his body correctly, there are some good matchups waiting for him at 155. It’s inevitable that we will also see Volkanovski move back up and challenge Islam Makhachev for the belt once again. Even if Holloway does move up, he will probably have to contend with his nemesis in that weight class too.
Holloway’s win against Arnold Allen proved he has a lot left to give. The subject of retirement has not been raised and it doesn’t seem to be an option for ‘Blessed’ at the moment. His signature high volume style was not on display against Allen, but he was still active. Instead, he cut angles using slick footwork and countered Allen expertly. It’s possible that this calculated strategy could be implemented in future bouts to avoid accumulating more damage.
Whatever Max Holloway decides to do moving forward, he first needs to focus on the task at hand: The Korean Zombie at UFC Singapore.
Do you think Holloway will stay at featherweight or move up? What fights make sense for him? Let us know in the comments.
For more on The Korean Zombie, check out our article here.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
