The Korean Zombie

Jung Chan-sung (born March 17, 1987), anglicized as Chan Sung Jung and better known by his ring name The Korean Zombie, is a South Korean former professional mixed martial artist.

He competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Born in Pohang, South Korea in 1987, Jung moved to Namyangju, a satellite city of Seoul when he was in his mid-teens.

Due to his slight stature and his rural origins, he was bullied constantly by his classmates and got into many fights as a result.

When his aunt could no longer stand to see Jung's predicament, she took him to a nearby Hapkido gym when he was around 14 years old.

Jung trained in Kickboxing until his junior year of high school.

He graduated from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology.

Later he also began training in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

At the age of 18, Jung joined the South Korean Navy and started training in Taekwondo.

A professional competitor since 2007, Jung formerly fought for the WEC, Pancrase, World Victory Road, and DEEP.

His nickname, The Korean Zombie, comes from his perceived zombie-like ability to continue to move forward and fight aggressively, even after taking heavy blows.

In June 2007, he won a Sambo tournament arranged by the Korean Sambo Association, and in December of the same year, he won the Lightweight division of the Pancrase Korea Neo-Blood Tournament after defeating fellow South Koreans Yoo In Seok and Lee Hyung Geol.

Aged 20, Jung began mixed martial arts and made his professional debut soon after.

Jung was also a participant in a show called Street Fighter in 2007 which aired on South Korean cable television.

He participated in the 70 kg tournament and won.

The tournament was stand-up only (similar to K-1 but not in a ring).

Jung made his professional debut in June 2007 and in December the same year, he won a Lightweight Tournament arranged by Pancrase Korea.

In May 2008, he participated in and won KOREA-FC's 8-man MMA tournament in the 65 kg division.

In 2008 he won both his fights for Japanese promotion DEEP.

On August 16, 2008, he defeated Michihiro Omigawa at DEEP: Gladiator via unanimous decision.

His next fight was against Fanjin Son at DEEP: 39 Impact where he won via knockout in 17 seconds.

He then entered the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix where he won his first-round fight but was eliminated from the tournament by the eventual winner Masanori Kanehara.

Jung then entered the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand-Prix and was matched up with Shintaro Ishiwatari in his first-round fight at Sengoku 7.

After dropping Ishiwatari once in stand-up striking, Jung hit Ishiwatari with a right hand forcing him to give up his back.

From there Jung sunk in a rear-naked choke submission forcing Ishiwatari to submit at 4:29 of the first round.

In his second-round fight at Sengoku 8 on May 2, 2009, he lost via unanimous decision to Masanori Kanehara officially eliminating him from the tournament.

The decision was considered questionable by the English commentators and many fans (especially given Sengoku's history of biased decisions against Korean fighters), who felt that Jung had done enough to deserve the decision.

On June 7, 2009, it was announced Jung would face American Matt Jaggers at Sengoku 9 in a reserve bout for the tournament with the winner stepping in as a replacement should some of the remaining fighters be unable to continue.

Jung ended up winning the fight by triangle choke submission at 1:25 of the second round, but was not required to step in as a replacement.

Chan Sung Jung then signed with World Extreme Cagefighting.

He made his American and WEC debut against Leonard Garcia (who replaced injured opponent Cub Swanson) on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48 losing by an extremely controversial split decision.

Many MMA publications and fans (including many in the Sacramento home crowd) opposed the decision, which has led again to questions about the accuracy of the fight judging.

However, the bout was awarded the Fight of the Night honors, this was later declared the Fight of the Year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Jung next faced George Roop on September 30, 2010, at WEC 51.

He lost the fight via knockout due to a head kick in the second round.

Jung was expected to face Rani Yahya on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23.

However, Jung was forced from the card with an injury.

A rematch with Garcia was scheduled for March 26, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 24, after Jung stepped in to replace an injured Nam Phan.

Jung was able to avenge the original loss after submitting Garcia with a twister in the final second of the second round.

This was the first time in the history of the UFC that a twister submission finished an opponent and the win earned Jung his first Submission of the Night honors.