UFC 273: Volkanovski vs The Korean Zombie – Preview

Jacksonville, Florida will play host to UFC 273, one of the year’s most stacked MMA cards. In the main event, reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will look for his third straight title defense. Looking to spoil the show is perennial contender Chan Sung Jung, better known as ‘The Korean Zombie’.

That’s not it, however. The title unification rematch we’ve all been waiting for will finally go down; bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and interim champion Petr Yan will settle the score, after their controversial 2021 fight.

To add more to this stacked card, a welterweight title shot is hanging in the balance. Surging phenom Khamzat Chimaev looks to prove his elite status at 170lbs when he fights former title challenger Gilbert Burns.

Let’s take a closer look at this card!

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(c) Alexander Volkanovski (23-1) vs (#4) Chan Sung Jung (17-6) – UFC featherweight championship bout

An epic title clash between the undisputed king at 145lbs and one his hardest-hitting foes is set for the marque of UFC 273.

Wollogong’s Alexander Volkanovski currently sits in the top-3 of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, and for good reason. The Aussie’s promotional tenure thus far has seen him go unbeaten, with wins over Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes. A technical striker of the finest order, there aren’t many who can do it quite like Volkanovski is doing at 145lbs. ‘The Great’ looks poised for a long and dominant title reign.

It’s been almost a decade since Chan Sung Jung’s last UFC title opportunity. Since that time, ‘The Korean Zombie’ has gone 4-2 in the Octagon, proving he is more than capable of still hanging with the best after a storied career. Renowned for his granite chin, Zombie brings an aggressive style and power-punches into every fight he is. A perfect storm scenario could see Zombie finally claim a UFC title for Korea at UFC 273.

(c) Aljamain Sterling (20-3) vs (ic) Petr Yan (16-2) – UFC bantamweight championship unification bout

Two bantamweight rivals will finally get the chance to run it back for the undisputed title.

Despite his disputed status as champion, there is no doubt that titleholder Aljamain Sterling is one of the very best at 135lbs. The New Yorker has used a combination of unorthodox striking and slick submissions to climb the ranks, en route to his title win. A persistent neck injury now dealt with, ‘Funkmaster’ feels like he is ready to put on his best performance to date. This fight serves as a chance at redemption for Sterling, given the ending of their UFC 259 bout.

One illegal shot in 2021 cost Petr Yan his undisputed bantamweight title. Due to the controversial nature of the bout, Russia’s finest has been dubbed the ‘people’s champ’ at 135lbs. Yan’s unrelenting striking has brought him to the top spot he is currently in, including an interim title win against Cory Sandhagen in his last outing. For ‘No Mercy’, this is simply an opportunity to prove that he is the true top dog in his division.

(#2) Gilbert Burns (20-4) vs (#11) Khamzat Chimaev (10-0) – welterweight bout

A potential shot at tbe 170lb title is on the line between a rising star and an elite jiu-jitsu practitioner in the featured bout.

Sanford MMA’s Gilbert Burns has spent the past few years establishing his status at the top of the welterweight division. The only man to have stopped Burns’ lethal submission game and KO power has been champion Kamaru Usman. To earn a rematch with the champ, ‘Durinho’ will have to put on another stellar performance that he is known for.

In the words of Dana White, there has not been a prospect in the UFC like Khamzat Chimaev. The Swede has used his national wrestling pedigree to completely destory every opponent he has faced. Should he choose to keep it on the feet, one-punch power can see Chimaev end the fight in a flash. A win at UFC 273 could catapult the fan-favourite ‘Borz’ into a title fight in the near future.

(#5) Mackenzie Dern (11-2) vs (#7) Tecia Torres (13-5) – strawweight bout

A chance at strawweight title contention will be up for grabs in this stylistic dream matchup at 115lbs.

For many years now, Mackenzie Dern has been considered the future of the UFC’s strawweight division. The jiu-jitsu champion’s grappling ability has made her a nightmare for almost all of her oppisition inside the Octagon. At 29 years old, it seems as though Dern is beginning to enter her athletic prime. If she can get back on track with a win this weekend, she’ll be looking like a real contender for the strawweight title.

The ‘gatekeeper’ term was loosely attached to #7 ranked Tecia Torres after a string of losses. Three wins on the spin for ‘Tiny Tornado’ has seen her firmly re-enter the title picture. She brings a very talented blend of black-belt in karate and tae-kwon-do & aggresive wrestling to make every fight she’s in a tough one. A fourth win for Torres could absolutely line her up for her first every UFC title opportunity.

Mark Madsen (11-0) vs Vinc Pichel (14-2) – lightweight bout

The top 15 at lightweight is ripe with talented contenders, but these two are looking to keep winning and add their names to the title mix.

Three fights deep into his UFC run, Denmark’s Mark Madsen looks to be everything that his reputation built him up to be. ‘The Olympian’ has used his wrestling to hustle all of his pro opponents thus far, and he has no desire to stop now. At 37 years old, the time for Madsen is now if he’s hoping to make a real run at the title. A win over Pichel could absolutely be the catalyst for a high-profile fight in the future.

Losses to Rustam Khabilov and Gregor Gillespie have been the only career downfalls for California’s Vinc Pichel. The talent of the Factory X fighter was known since his pro debut in 2009, but injuries sidelined him and he seemed to be fighting inconsistently. Now, however, Pichel has been putting grappling talent to good use, currently riding a three-fight win-streak. A fourth win notched onto the streak good give ‘From Hell’ Pichel the recognition he deserves.

Ian Garry (8-0) vs Darian Weeks (5-1) – welterweight bout

A pair of welterweight standouts are hoping to climb further up the ladder in the featured prelim of UFC 273.

Ireland’s best hope for a second UFC title returns for his sophomore appearance. Ian Garry claimed his first promotional win back in November, scoring a first-round KO over Jordan Williams. Preceeding that performance, ‘The Future’ claimed the Cage Warriors welterweight title with a gritty decision win. At only 24 years old and standing at 6’3″, there could be things down the line for the Dublin native if he continues to win.

A 5-1 start to his pro career hasn’t been half bad for Darian Weeks. Before that, Weeks came up through the IMMAF circuit, going 15-4. Bringing the fight to the ground is likely the plan in mind, hoping to score a fifth TKO win. Hungry for his first UFC win, this will be no “gimme” fight for Garry.

(#8) Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-3) vs (#10) Marcin Tybura (22-7) – heavyweight bout

Redemption is on the minds of Suriname’s and Poland’s top heavyweights coming into this weekend.

The hype behind Jairzinho Rozenstruik has not died, but it has come to a halt following mixed results. Coming into UFC 273, ‘Bigi Boy’ is hoping to get back to winning ways and climb back to title contention. A pro kickboxing career has honed Rozenstruik’s technical ability, as well as his knockout power. It’s clear that a twelfth career KO is going to be on Rozenstruik’s mind on Saturday.

An opportunity to challenge for a UFC title has alluded Marcin Tybura. The talent and skill is absolutely there for the Pole, however. He has gone 5-1 in his last six, only dropping a close decision to Alexander Volkov. His speed for heavyweight, coupled with his mauling grappling, make him a tough outing for anybody in his division. This is a very winnable fight for Tybura.

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Who are you picking this weekend? Who will be the champions as of Sunday morning? Let us know in the comments!