UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Ige Preview

A featherweight firefight is set for the main event this Saturday, June 19 in the UFC APEX. Chan Sung Jung and Dan Ige will battle it out at the top of the 145-pound division, in the co-main event Aleksei Oleinik and Sergey Spivak will square off in the heavyweight division at UFC Vegas 29.

Dan Ige has proved that he deserves to be in the upper echelon of the featherweight division over the past few years. Ige has had one blip in his rise through the ranks, that was a decision loss to Calvin Kattar, two fights ago. Ige got back into the win column in his last fight with an impressive first round knockout of Gavin Tucker.

Chan Sung Jung, better known as “The Korean Zombie”, is never in a boring fight. He dropped a decision loss in his last trip to the octagon, that defeat was to current number one contender Brian Ortega. Jung, at this stage of his career, must feel that this fight is make or break if he is to put yet another run at the 145lb title. He is battling with father time at the age of 34 and has been in endless wars throughout his career. I’m sure he will come into this fight with fire in his belly, not wanting to lose two on the bounce.

Ige will be looking to use this fight as a springboard for him to get into the title mix. He has proved he can hang with the big boys and his win over Edson Barboza confirms that statement. Both of these guys like to move forward and land big shots which will give us guaranteed entertainment in the main event. It hard to predict the winner of this fight. The difference may come down to who wants it more on the night and/or who’s chin holds up better. This fight will be one that you should not miss.

MMA and UFC veteran Aleksei Oleinik will fight in his 75th mixed martial arts fight when he makes the walk to take on Sergey Spivak in the co-main event. Russian fighter Oleinik has dropped his last two fights and will play gatekeeper to his Moldovan rival. Spivak has won his last two, and a win in this contest should see him get a top ten opponent. He will have to try with all he might to keep of the mat I would imagine he will not want to test his grappling skills with someone who is a master when the fight hits the deck.

UK’s own Davey Grant will step in to rematch Marlon Vera in the bantamweight division. Both fighters shared the octagon way back in 2016. Grant took home the decision that night, Vera will be looking to get that one back and that should result in a very exciting encounter.

“Juicy J” Julian Erosa will make the walk to take on Seung Woo Choi at 145 pounds. Erona is on a three fight win streak and id 2-0 since his return to the UFC. Choi looked really impressive in his last outing when he beat Yousef Zalal in what should be a very fast paced fight.

Bruno Silva comes into his middleweight fight with Wellington Turman on the back of four straight wins. The Brazilian fighter will make his UFC debut against his fellow countryman Turman who lost his last outing against Andrew Sanchez. Matt Brown will open up the main card when he faces off against Dhiego Lima in the welterweight. UFC veteran Brown always brings the heat, he is in the twilight of his career and has lost in his last two trips to the octagon. Lima lost in his last outing to Belal Muhammad and will be eager to get back in into the win column. Brown has the ability to make any fight exciting with he kill or be killed mentality and the former TUF contestant always looks for the finish. Great fight to open up the main card.

Undefeated Scottish flyweight Casey O’Neill will kick off the night of action when she takes on Lara Procópio. O’Neill, who trains out of Australia, has not tasted defeated so far in professional career and really impressed in her UFC debut when she finished Shana Dobson in the second round. Procópio fights out of the famous Nova União gym in Rio de Janeiro, she defeated Molly McCann last February to move to 1-1 inside the octagon. Khaos Williams is alway fun to watch, the man has some serious power. His opponent, Matthew Semelsberger has not been defeated under the UFC lights, the American has five knockouts of his own and can throw heavy leather. That will be a fun fight in the welterweight division which is also takes place on the prelims.

Check out the official card and start times below.

Main card (BT Sports / ESPN+, 7pm ET)

Featherweight: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dan Ige
Heavyweight: Aleksei Oleinik vs. Sergey Spivak:
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera vs. Davey Grant
Featherweight: Julian Erosa vs. Seung Woo Choi
Middleweight: Wellington Turman vs. Bruno Silva
Welterweight: Matt Brown vs. Dhiego Lima

Preliminary card (BT Sports/ ESPN+, 4pm ET)

Light Heavyweight: Aleksa Camur vs. Nicolae Negumereanu
Women’s Strawweight: Kanako Murata vs. Virna Jandiroba
Welterweight: Khaos Williams vs. Matthew Semelsberger
Heavyweight: Josh Parisian vs. Roque Martinez
Lightweight: Joaquim Silva vs. Rick Glenn
Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Lara Procópio