UFC: The Korean Zombie trolls featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for title defence indecisiveness

Soon after fresh featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski said he was hesitant about a Max Holloway rematch, contender Jung Chan-sung – more familiarly known as “The Korean Zombie” – took to Instagram to troll the Australian.

“Afraid you’re going to get KO’d by the Zombie mate? #chicken #again #seeyousoon,” Jung posted alongside a screenshot of a news article quoting Volkanovski’s reply to the South Korean’s previous call-out.

Volkanovski (professional MMA record 21-1) is on an eight-fight win streak (18 across all promotions) in the UFC, defeating the likes of UFC great Jose Aldo, and capped it with a unanimous decision victory over featherweight favourite Holloway in December.

Having originally been willing for the rematch, Volkanovski said he had re-watched the fight and did not think the fight was close.

“There’s obviously rounds that [were] a lot closer than others but if you’re giving him a round, it’s purely because he was champion and you wanted him to win … There were some rounds that were a little bit closer but I was struggling to give him a round. I really was,” the 31-year-old Volkanovski told MMA Fighting, adding that he could be persuaded if he can renegotiate his UFC contract.

Volkanovski, who is recovering from a broken hand, also appeared unsure of the division’s most deserving contender, which includes Jung, Bryan Ortega and Zabit Magomedsharipov.

“No one’s a clear number-one contender … Take someone out. Take out whoever you feel can put you in that number-one spot. Do what I done leading into my title fight,” he said.

The 32-year-old Jung (16-5) has had a resurgence since doing his mandatory military service in 2015. He is 3-1 and defeated young prospect Renato Moicano and UFC veteran Frankie Edgar last year – both by first-round knockout.

Jung called Volkanovski out in his non-native English during his Edgar post-fight interview. He later told MMA Junkie that his first-round finish game plan would not change should he face the champion.

Volkanovski played down the match-up, telling BJPenn.com that “no one is the clear number one” and that “it ain’t gonna be that easy” for whoever his next defence is against.

“Match-up-wise, you come rushing at me like [you did against Edgar] … I ain’t gonna be there or I’m going to put one right under your chin. You come at me with them arms down like that, swinging from the [expletive] hip like that, I’ll be putting you to sleep.”