Later tonight (Sat., Aug. 3, 2013) inside HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, two Featherweight powerhouses will collide in a highly anticipated championship fight when reigning champion Jose Aldo takes on "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung in the UFC 163 main event.
Both of these men are known for their incredible durability and high pace, which will more than likely mix to deliver a memorable championship match up.
Aldo, the Brazilian ace known for blistering speed and vicious Muay Thai, has been a big name in the 145-pound division for what seems like forever. After almost nine years and 23 professional fights, he has defeated many well known fighters, including Urijah Faber, Mike Brown, Kenny Florian and Frankie Edgar, among others. In his entire career, Aldo has had only one loss, a defeat that came early in his career at the hands of Luciano Azevedo in the form of a rear-naked choke.
The career of "Scarface" has been defined by his striking game,which is what makes him such a fun fighter to watch. His strikes are delivered with terrific technique and superhuman speed, making him a very difficult opponent to approach and one who strikes fear into the opponents he faces. He has used his Muay Thai to brutal effectiveness, battering opponents en route stoppage victories and lopsided decisions.
This time, though, Aldo may meet someone who is impossible to intimidate. And who better than a zombie?
Jung isn't the most technical nor the most precise fighter, but he is relentless and largely effective, dragging opponents into dogfights that he wins more often than not.
The way these two match up, it's hard to envision their showdown playing out in any way that is not exciting. Aldo will be fighting in front of a Brazilian audience and, accordingly, will be twice the destroyer than normal, while Jung will enter the match with the biggest opportunity of his life at the height of his career. Aldo will look to blast Jung with everything he has, and "Korean Zombie" will probably take any shot he has to if he can eventually drag "Scarface" into a battle of wills.
This fight will be played out everywhere, with "Korean Zombie" looking to impose his very good (and very underrated) clinch takedowns to repeatedly catch Aldo off guard. However, "Scarface" has shown to be dynamic in shutting down opponents' takedowns and clinch games, so that should be an interesting battle to watch play out.
Ultimately, when these two Featherweights lock horns, it will be an intense battle to see who can impose their game on the other. Will Aldo put on a vicious clinic, making Jung look stupid to challenge him, or will "Korean Zombie" successfully drag the champion into a dogfight where it is anyone's game?
It remains to be seen, but either way, the clash between Jose Aldo vs. Chan Sung Jung be a title fight that you definitely don't want to miss.