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Chan Sung Jung returns to action in the main event.
Chan Sung Jung returns to action in the main event.Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The Complete Guide to UFC Fight Night 104: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie

Patrick WymanJan 31, 2017

Fan-favorite Chan Sung Jung, the Korean Zombie, finally makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon after three years away due to injuries and a two-year stint in the South Korean military. He takes on Dennis Bermudez in a firecracker of a main event on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday from Houston.

That is just the cap to an evening of fun, well-matched fights. In the co-main event, rising star Alexa Grasso takes on Felice Herrig in a classic prospect vs. veteran matchup. With a win, Grasso could establish herself as the next big thing in a strawweight division that's quickly becoming one of the UFC's deepest and most consistently entertaining weight classes.

Another strawweight bout opens the main card on FS1, pitting Invicta FC champion Angela Hill against Jessica Andrade in a fantastic fight. Hill has won four in a row since her release from the UFC, and Andrade is 2-0 at 115 pounds. With a win, Andrade could punch her ticket to a title fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Although that's about it for name value, practically every fight should be fun. The lightweight bout between Abel Trujillo and James Vick should be a barnburner, and keep an eye on the preliminary-card headliner between young heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Adam Milstead. 

Let's take a look at each matchup.

The Fight Pass Prelims

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Alex Morono faces Niko Price in the Fight Pass headliner.
Alex Morono faces Niko Price in the Fight Pass headliner.

Light Heavyweights

Khalil Rountree (4-2; 0-2 UFC) vs. Daniel Jolly (5-1; 0-1 UFC)

Talented prospects who have yet to live up to their promise open the show on Fight Pass. Rountree competed on The Ultimate Fighter 23, coming up short at the finale against Andrew Sanchez and then falling to Tyson Pedro in his next fight. Misha Cirkunov dominated Jolly in his debut in August 2015.

Rountree is a slick southpaw counterpuncher with huge power and great athleticism, but he's a genuinely bad defensive wrestler and has shown little growth in his grappling game. Jolly too is a good athlete, but he lacks much depth of skill anywhere.

Prediction: Rountree is the better technical striker. He lands a knockout shot in the first round. 

Welterweights

Alex Morono (13-3; 2-0 UFC) vs. Niko Price (9-0; 1-0 UFC)

Rising welterweights close out the Fight Pass portion of the event. Morono debuted with a tight win over Kyle Noke and followed that up with a dominant one over James Moontasri, while Price won his first UFC appearance in a serious upset over Brandon Thatch just five weeks ago.

Morono is a tough, quick-paced striker who puts together nice combinations with his hands and likes to get after his opponent. Price isn't a bad striker, showcasing some real power and durability on the feet, but he's also a competent wrestler with an aggressive submission game.

Prediction: This should be a fun fight. Morono wins a back-and-forth decision.

The Fox Sports 1 Prelims

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Curtis Blaydes is a rising talent at heavyweight.
Curtis Blaydes is a rising talent at heavyweight.

Strawweights

Bec Rawlings (7-5; 2-2 UFC) vs. Tecia Torres (7-1; 3-1 UFC)

Strawweight contender Torres tries to get back on track following the first loss of her career against journeywoman Rawlings. Torres won the first three fights of her UFC career but fell short in a close fight with Rose Namajunas last April. Rawlings ate a Paige VanZant head kick in August, which snapped a two-fight winning streak.

Torres is physical, athletic and quick on her feet. Though she stands just 5'1", she fights long on the feet, using side and round kicks to wear her opponent down and then leaping in with heavy punching combinations. She's strong in the clinch, a good defensive wrestler and a solid top-control artist when she decides to go that route.

Rawlings is huge for the division at 5'6" and likes a brawling, physical style. She's happy to exchange on the feet and is a decent counterpuncher but does her best work in tight spaces with knees, punches and elbows. Strong takedown defense keeps her standing, and she can hit the occasional takedown.

Prediction: Rawlings has a huge size advantage and the style to make it work for her, but Torres' stick-and-move combination work is a brutal matchup for Rawlings' brawling game. Torres overcomes a couple of scary moments and wins a clean decision.

Bantamweights

Ricardo Ramos (9-1; 0-0 UFC) vs. Michinori Tanaka (11-2; 2-2 UFC)

Touted prospect Ramos, 11th on this year's Bleacher Report top-25 list, makes his UFC debut against Japan's Tanaka. Ramos comes to the UFC via Dana White's Lookin' for a Fight web series. Tanaka has gone win-loss in his four outings, most recently dropping a decision to Rani Yahya last September.

Tanaka is explosive and athletic, melding an in-and-out striking game of heavy punching combinations and kicks with slick takedowns in the clinch. Ramos is a dangerous 21-year-old with finishing power on the feet, explosive takedowns and a lethal submission game on the mat.

Prediction: Tanaka's defensive wrestling game has been a problem in the past, and if Ramos gets on top or creates scrambles, Tanaka could be in trouble. If this turns into a striking match, though, Tanaka's in-and-out style will give Ramos fits. Tanaka takes a decision.

Featherweights

Chas Skelly (16-2; 5-2 UFC) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (13-1; 1-0 UFC)

Midtier featherweights clash in a potentially fun fight. Skelly rebounded from a one-sided loss to Darren Elkins by submitting Maximo Blanco, while this will be Gruetzemacher's first fight since a December 2015 win over Abner Lloveras.

Skelly is a grinder. He can strike a bit and has some pop in his hands, but he's a relentless wrestler and grappler with a nose for submissions when he gets his hands on his opponent. Gruetzemacher can do a bit of everything, and he does it all with aggression. He likes to pressure and throws combinations in tight, mixing in the clinch and takedowns.

Prediction: Gruetzemacher could wear Skelly down with his pressure and combinations, but it's more likely that Skelly works his takedowns and grappling game. Skelly wins the first two rounds to take a decision.

Heavyweights

Adam Milstead (8-1; 1-0 UFC) vs. Curtis Blaydes (6-1; 1-1 UFC)

Talented young American heavyweights headline the FS1 prelims as the 29-year-old Milstead takes on the 25-year-old Blaydes in a strong matchup. Milstead debuted with a slobberknocker win over Chris de la Rocha in May, while Blaydes rebounded from a loss to rising star Francis Ngannou in his debut by finishing Cody East in October. The winner will be a fighter to watch in the rapidly evolving heavyweight division.

Milstead is a fantastic athlete. He does his best work with his hands, throwing slick combinations that showcase his quick, powerful hands. His sense of timing makes him a surprisingly good counterpuncher. He's a solid defensive wrestler, though he still has some lapses. He can hit the occasional takedown to mix things up.

Blaydes was a junior college national champion wrestler, and he can still hit a slick array of singles, doubles, trips and throws, but he's turning into a well-rounded fighter. A quick, strong athlete with great size (6'4"), Blaydes works behind a heavy jab on the feet, throws mean low kicks and isn't afraid to mix things up in exchanges. He has a knack for transitions and does a good job of disguising his takedowns with strikes.

Prediction: Milstead has the striking chops and the power to knock out Blaydes, but Blaydes' takedowns and top control should be the difference. He finishes Milstead with ground strikes in the third round.

Jessica Andrade vs. Angela Hill

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Andrade is a mean, entertaining fighter.
Andrade is a mean, entertaining fighter.

Strawweights

Jessica Andrade (15-5; 6-3 UFC) vs. Angela Hill (6-2; 1-2 UFC)

Brazil's Andrade continues her run up the strawweight ranks in a barnburner of a matchup against Invicta champion Hill, who makes her triumphant return to the UFC following four straight victories in the smaller organization.

Andrade has finished both of her 115-pound opponents in brutal fashion, knocking out former top contender Jessica Penne and then submitting Joanne Calderwood. Hill's list of recent victims isn't as impressive on name value, but it includes Invicta champion Livia Renata Souza among other solid fighters. 

If Andrade wins, she's likely to get the next shot at Joanna Jedrzejczyk's belt, while Hill would probably still be a win or two away.

Andrade is a dangerous puncher who makes up for her lack of height (she stands 5'2") with explosiveness, power and aggression. She's like a coiled spring as she stalks her opponent at range and tries to back her into the fence. The moment her opponent is trapped, Andrade pulls the trigger and unleashes a terrifying flurry of punches.

These flurries are the hallmark of Andrade's game. She might throw as many as 20 or 25 shots at a time if her opponent fails to get off the fence, but these aren't flailing, thoughtless combinations that rely on sheer volume and raw power to get the job done. Rather, Andrade is a clever puncher, moving her shots between body and head, doubling or tripling one side and mixing in knees and elbows for variety.

If that weren't enough, Andrade is also a powerful wrestler. Her takedown defense is excellent and made better by her low center of gravity, which makes it hard to get in on her hips. When she decides to try for a takedown, she employs a slick mixture of powerful slams, sneaky trips and throws. She's a bit vulnerable in the clinch, though, as she tends to duck down. This opens her up to knees and uppercuts.

From top position, Andrade is a bomber. She throws a steady stream of powerful ground strikes and passes smoothly while maintaining control. Opponents who scramble need to be careful to avoid her front headlock; her guillotine choke is one of the best in the division.

This isn't a foolproof approach. Andrade relies almost entirely on these flurries to generate offense, and opponents who can stick and move while staying away from the fence can limit her opportunities to land punches and takedowns.

Hill has made tremendous improvements to her game in her 16 months away from the UFC. She has always been a talented, athletic striker, but her improved footwork and takedown defense have made her more able to impose the game she wants to play.

Sticking and moving at range is Hill's wheelhouse. She works behind a heavy jab and a steady diet of round kicks, and then she picks her spots either to sit down on a combination as her opponent pressures or to dart in with her own sequence of punches. When Hill gets going, she can put a real pace on her opponent, and all of her shots carry power.

The clinch is a strong secondary area for Hill. She has a fantastic double-collar tie and a great understanding of leverage and positioning, which allows her to blast her opponent with heavy knees and the occasional elbow. She has added takedowns of her own over her last several fights as a complement. Her takedown defense has improved, though it's still not bulletproof, and she's vulnerable to having her kicks caught.

Hill has become a competent grappler. Her guard is aggressive and good at tying up opponents on top, if not exceptionally dangerous. When she gets to top position, she can control and land shots with power, though nobody will confuse her with an especially lethal submission grappler.

Betting Odds

Andrade -465 (bet $465 to win $100), Hill +370 (bet $100 to win $370)

Prediction

It's surprising that the betting odds are so wide. Hill's athleticism, stick-and-move approach and ability in the clinch make her a tough stylistic matchup for the aggressive Andrade, who relies on forcing her opponent to the fence to produce her flurries and takedowns.

With that said, Andrade should win this. Hill makes just enough mistakes—caught kicks, lapses in judgment with her footwork, etc.—that Andrade should find opportunities to flurry and hit takedowns. The pick is Andrade by decision in a fun, back-and-forth fight.

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Anthony Hamilton vs. Marcel Fortuna

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Anthony Hamilton makes his eighth appearance in the UFC.
Anthony Hamilton makes his eighth appearance in the UFC.

Heavyweights

Anthony Hamilton (15-6; 3-4 UFC) vs. Marcel Fortuna (8-1; 0-0 UFC)

The veteran Hamilton draws the debuting Fortuna in a low-level heavyweight fight. Hamilton last fought in December, suffering a submission loss to hot prospect Francis Ngannou, after knocking out Damian Grabowski in July. Fortuna hasn't fought since June 2015, when he submitted UFC veteran David Mitchell, though he lost his attempt to get into the house for The Ultimate Fighter 23.

Hamilton is a well-rounded and experienced fighter who can do a bit of everything, though he doesn't stand out in any particular phase. On the feet, he showcases power in his hands, throwing competent combinations and the occasional kick.

Wrestling is the best part of Hamilton's game. His takedown defense is excellent. He's strong when he gets his hands on his opponent and has a variety of takedowns in his arsenal, from singles and doubles to trips. On top, Hamilton puts a pace on his opponent, dropping a steady stream of heavy shots while maintaining control. He isn't much of a submission threat, though.

Fortuna is a light heavyweight, and at 6'1", not an especially big one. Although he's a standout grappler with a second-degree black belt in BJJ, Fortuna isn't a one-dimensional fighter. He throws sharp punch-kick combinations on the feet and has some pop in his shots. His timing on his level changes and shots is good, though he's not an especially technical wrestler.

Grappling is Fortuna's wheelhouse. His control is strong, and he has a nose for the submission, particularly armbars and chokes.

Betting Odds

Hamilton -175, Fortuna +155

Prediction

Hamilton has an enormous size advantage and is by far the better wrestler, so he should be able to keep it standing or work from the top as he desires. He knocks out Fortuna in the first round.

Ovince Saint Preux vs. Volkan Oezdemir

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Saint Preux tries to rebound against Oezdemir.
Saint Preux tries to rebound against Oezdemir.

Light Heavyweights

Ovince Saint Preux (19-9; 7-4 UFC) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (12-1; 0-0 UFC)

Former interim title contender Saint Preux tries to get back on track against the debuting Oezdemir, the UFC's first Swiss fighter, who replaces the injured Jan Blachowicz. Saint Preux has now lost two in a row, the first a decision to Jon Jones and the second a knockout at the powerful hands of Jimi Manuwa. Oezdemir has been around for a while as a prospect and is best known for a two-fight stint in Bellator.

Saint Preux, a former football player at the University of Tennessee, is an excellent athlete and huge for the division at 6'3". His game revolves around his speed, strength and power, and he hasn't shown much skill growth in the last several years.

That doesn't mean Saint Preux is a bad fighter, though. He likes to set a long range on the feet, flicking a southpaw jab and front kick to keep his opponent at bay. When the opponent is forced to close the distance, Saint Preux fires off sharp counterpunches, making use of his speed and excellent timing. Any single shot can end the fight, though he doesn't throw much volume.

Wrestling is Saint Preux's secondary skill set. He can hit an explosive double-leg takedown when the mood strikes and is an average defensive wrestler but burns far too much energy as he tries to get back to his feet. On top, he throws hard ground strikes and does good work from the top ride.

Oezdemir is a striker who throws hard punch-kick combinations. He's powerful and dangerous and when he puts his mind to it can be crisp and technical, but he has a bad habit of getting wild and losing control. When he brawls, Oezdemir is hittable and gives away most of his skill advantages.

While he's mostly a striker, Oezdemir is also a competent wrestler and grappler. He has good timing on his takedowns and does a nice job of exploding through to finish his shots. On top, he throws with power while defending submissions. He offers little from his back, though, and isn't a bulletproof defensive wrestler.

Betting Odds

Saint Preux -310, Oezdemir +255

Prediction

If Oezdemir can keep this technical, he has a shot at landing kicks and his combinations as he pressures. If he gets wild and rushes in, Saint Preux will nail him with counters. The latter seems more likely, and the American lands the knockout shot in the first round.

James Vick vs. Abel Trujillo

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Trujillo is a dangerous puncher.
Trujillo is a dangerous puncher.

Lightweights

James Vick (9-1; 5-1 UFC) vs. Abel Trujillo (15-6, 1 NC; 6-2, 1 NC UFC)

Talented, midtier lightweights meet in a fun matchup. Vick suffered the first official loss of his professional career in his last outing, falling to top-10 talent Beneil Dariush by knockout. That setback snapped a five-fight winning streak. Trujillo has won three in a row, albeit one of those by disqualification after Gleison Tibau tested positive, and most recently won a decision over Jordan Rinaldi.

A fantastic athlete with great explosiveness, speed and power, Trujillo has built his game around maximizing his physical gifts. He's a big-time puncher on the feet and prefers to operate at long range, cutting angles and picking his spots to explode into a forward-moving combination. Alternatively, he can counter as his opponent tries to close that gap, and that might be the best piece of Trujillo's striking repertoire.

There are a couple of problems with this approach. First, it takes a ton of energy for Trujillo to explode in and out of range, which means he can gas out quickly. Second, he's not a defensive mastermind and isn't hard to hit as he comes in or stands there trying to counter.

Trujillo's wrestling game is a solid backup to his striking repertoire. He has a nice array of doubles and trips and, his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov aside, has shown strong defensive skills. On top, he throws heat in his ground strikes and has a nasty front headlock when opponents try to scramble. He has a bad habit of giving up his back if taken down, though.

Vick is extremely long for the division, standing a scarecrow-thin 6'3". His preferred mode is stick-and-move striking, which makes good use of his height, reach and surprising quickness. Working behind a sharp jab and a steady diet of kicks, Vick circles and moves through the space of the cage, picking his spots to sit down on a punching combination or launch a flying knee.

While he's not a big puncher, Vick works at a quick pace and piles up volume and attrition to the body and legs. He's not a great defensive fighter, though, and relies on his length and movement to avoid damage. If an opponent can get inside that reach, he can land almost at will.

Offensive wrestling isn't Vick's strong suit—he has yet to complete a takedown in six UFC outings—and he's not much of a clinch fighter, either. Decent defensive wrestling skills help keep him standing, but again, he relies on his height and reach to keep opponents away. A nasty guillotine in transition helps persuade opponents not to shoot, and he's a solid grappler in general, though he doesn't use the skills much.

Betting Odds

Vick -115, Trujillo -105

Prediction

Trujillo has the explosiveness to get past Vick's reach and the wrestling skills to work him over on the inside, but the danger of gassing is always present. While he'll probably lose the late stretches of the fight, Trujillo takes the first two rounds to win a decision.

Felice Herrig vs. Alexa Grasso

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Grasso is a serious talent.
Grasso is a serious talent.

Co-Main Event: Strawweights

Felice Herrig (11-6; 2-2 UFC) vs. Alexa Grasso (9-0; 1-0 UFC)

Once again, the UFC calls on the veteran Herrig to take on a promising prospect as she faces the rising Mexican star Grasso. Herrig fell to Paige VanZant in April 2015 and then rebounded with a big win over Kailin Curran last July in her most recent fights. The 23-year-old Grasso had an impressive four-fight run in Invicta before debuting in the UFC with a win over Heather Jo Clark.

The UFC has high hopes for Grasso, and Herrig represents an action-oriented test of where she's at. 

Grasso is a serious talent. She has great size for the division at 5'5" and backs that up with speed, athleticism and a hefty dose of technical skill.

Striking is what Grasso does best, specifically boxing. She has outstanding footwork, cutting crisp angles and moving through the cage with pivots and sidesteps. Her head is constantly moving off the center line and she combines it with active parries and blocks, making it difficult to hit her cleanly. Her jab is stiff and consistent, and her combinations are gorgeous and fundamentally sound.

Grasso isn't an especially powerful puncher, but her hands are quick and her technical skill allows her to work at an exceptional pace. When she does sit down on a head-body flurry, her killer instinct shows through clearly. The occasional round, front or spinning kick adds some variety to Grasso's boxing arsenal.

The rest of Grasso's game is coming along nicely, and like her boxing, she executes everything with precision and proper technique. Her takedown defense has always been competent, but it's now entering the realm of excellence. In the clinch, she throws nasty knees and elbows and puts her height and leverage to good use. She can hit trips of her own when the mood strikes.

Grasso is an aggressive grappler. When she finds herself on her back, she throws up a steady stream of upkicks, triangles, armbars and sweeps. On top, she shows off solid passing and control skills, though she has yet to showcase a submission game against elite competition.

All the pieces are there for Grasso to become an elite fighter; she just needs time and seasoning. 

Herrig is a well-rounded journeywoman, in the best sense of the term: She's been in there with some of the top fighters in her division and given them tough, competitive fights.

On the feet, Herrig tosses out a consistent jab and throws a mean left kick, though she could stand to work at a quicker pace and sit down on combinations more often than she does. 

The clinch is Herrig's best phase. She has good leverage and technical skill in tight spaces, melding control with a steady diet of knees and the occasional trip.

Grappling is where Herrig is really dangerous. She controls well from top position and passes smoothly to dominant positions. The armbar is her go-to submission, but she also has a slick move to the back. Scrambles aren't her strong suit, but if her opponent lets her establish position, Herrig can do work.

Betting Odds

Grasso -290, Herrig +245

Prediction

Herrig has the durability and depth of skill to make this a tough fight for Grasso, but the betting odds give the American a bit too much credit. Grasso is an infinitely better striker who will pile up volume on the feet, and Herrig doesn't have the rugged wrestling game necessary to rough up and control Grasso on the inside. If Herrig can get it to the ground consistently, things could get interesting, but that's a long shot.

Grasso will pepper Herrig with combinations on the feet, work her over in the clinch, stuff takedowns and run away with an increasingly wide decision victory.

Dennis Bermudez vs. Chan Sung Jung

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Chan Sung Jung returns to action against Dennis Bermudez.
Chan Sung Jung returns to action against Dennis Bermudez.

Main Event: Featherweights

Dennis Bermudez (16-5; 9-3 UFC) vs. Chan Sung Jung (13-4; 3-1 UFC)

The Korean Zombie finally returns to action after an injury layoff and two years in the South Korean military. He faces the veteran Dennis Bermudez, who has fought seven times since Jung's last trip into the Octagon.

Before his time away from the sport, Jung had lost a somewhat strange fight to dominant featherweight champion Jose Aldo, eschewing his aggressive style for something more measured and then separating his shoulder in the fourth round. Prior to that, he had won three in a row to begin his UFC career, taking out Dustin Poirier in 2012's fight of the year, knocking out Mark Hominick and submitting Leonard Garcia.

Bermudez's seven-fight winning streak between 2012 and 2014 feels like a long time ago now following losses to contenders Ricardo Lamas and Jeremy Stephens, but he's still a quality fighter in the division. He's currently riding a two-fight streak over Tatsuya Kawajiri and Rony Jason.

This is a fun matchup on the merits, but it also has real meaning for both fighters. Bermudez would deserve another fight with a contender with a win here, and Jung could reinsert himself into the conversation at the top of the division if he comes out on top.

Despite his lack of height—he stands only 5'6"—Bermudez fights at long range on the feet, putting his speed to good use to cover distance quickly. He throws a consistent jab, then steps in with clean head-body combinations that he loves to finish with a brutal low kick. His pace is outstanding, and he piles up a great deal of volume.

While his thick frame and explosiveness scream "knockout artist," Bermudez isn't an especially dangerous puncher. He has some pop but is more concerned with landing strikes and wearing his opponent down than finishing at range.

The problem with his game is defense. Because of his lack of height, Bermudez generally has a long way to go to land his combinations. That gives his opponents time to plan their counters, which his lack of head movement and tendency to stop and admire his work makes even more of a problem. He doesn't take a great punch, either.

Wrestling is a strong secondary skill set for Bermudez. He's a monster in the clinch and throws sharp, dangerous knees from the double-collar tie. His entries on his level changes are slick and well-timed. Explosive, authoritative double-leg takedowns and single-leg lifts are particular specialties.

In the past, Bermudez preferred to use his takedowns as a change of pace from his striking. He's placing more emphasis on top control now, though, and has turned into a genuinely dangerous grappler. His posture is excellent, and he throws vicious ground strikes; when the mood strikes, he can pass to the back and hit the rear-naked choke.

Jung is an offensive powerhouse who can finish the fight in any phase and at any time. Aggression, though a calculated and increasingly intelligent brand of it, is the hallmark of his game.

Striking is what most associate with Jung, and for good reason: He made his reputation as a wild brawler, but as the years have progressed, he has honed that approach into something both more dangerous and more technically sound. His durability, power and willingness to engage remain, but he's smarter about how he utilizes those tools.

The primary manifestation of this sharpened approach is an emphasis on counterpunching. At his best, Jung slings heavy kicks and popping jabs as he walks forward into the pocket, and when his opponent throws, Jung either parries or moves his head before replying with his own combination. In these kinds of controlled sequences, Jung's best attributes come into play while minimizing his flaws.

When he decides to really pressure and walk his opponent down, Jung is still dangerous but also more vulnerable. His head movement and parries tend to disappear as he moves forward, making him open to counters. Opponents who have the footwork and discipline to stick and move can repeatedly punish him for his aggression.

If that were all Jung had to offer, he'd be a fun action fighter. What makes him a real contender is the rest of his game.

Strong takedown defense mostly keeps Jung standing. When he decides to get the fight to the mat, he employs a slick arsenal of trips and throws. Catching kicks and turning them into takedowns is a particular specialty.

On the ground, Jung is dangerous and diverse. His guard is active and lethal, melding triangles, armbars and sweeps in a constant series of attacks. On top, he passes nicely and has great posture, which makes him a brutal ground striker. When he gets to the back, he can attack with chokes and his trademark twister. Scrambles are the best part of his grappling game, especially his front headlock. 

Betting Odds

Bermudez -190, Jung +165

Prediction

Jung's long layoff and injury history make it difficult to tell precisely what he'll look like here. He's still only 29, and the time away might have helped heal some lingering issues. On the other hand, ring rust is a real phenomenon, and it's been more than three years since he fought.

If he has continued to develop in the direction he was heading before the layoff, though, Jung is a difficult matchup for Bermudez. His crisp counterpunching is the biggest problem for Bermudez, who has been caught coming in by less skilled strikers in the past. His tendency to work at a quick pace means that Jung will get more than his fair share of opportunities to land.

Bermudez's takedowns will be a factor, but Jung's active guard and dangerous transitional game should mitigate that risk.

Again, this all depends on the X-factors we have no way of knowing. With all that in mind, the tentative pick here is Jung by knockout in the second round.

Odds via OddsShark.com and current as of February 1.

Patrick Wyman is the Senior MMA Analyst for Bleacher Report and the co-host of the Heavy Hands Podcast, your source for the finer points of face-punching. For the history enthusiasts out there, he also hosts The Fall of Rome Podcast on the end of the Roman Empire. He can be found on Twitter and on Facebook.

Chapman's Game-Saving Play 😱

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