UFC Fight Night 139: Korean Zombie vs Rodriguez Picks and Predictions

• UFC Fight Night 139 takes place on November 10, 2018 at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado
• Korean Zombie and Yair Rodriguez face for the night’s main event
• Both fighters are looking to bounce back from a lengthy lay-off

The UFC celebrates its 25th birthday with UFC Fight Night 139. The first ever UFC event took place in Denver back in 1993, and that’s where it returns on November 10th. The promotion has thrown together a fun card, with fights that are relatively low in significance but high in entertainment value.

Chan Sung Jung and Yair Rodriguez headline the event for a featherweight showdown. We haven’t seen much of either fighter lately, so this is a great match-up for the fans. And fighting in the co-main is Don Cerrone, who is incapable of a boring fight.

UFC Fight Night 139: Korean Zombie vs Rodriguez Odds

It’s the Korean Zombie against the Mexican Beyblade. Yair Rodriguez (10-2) steps in on three weeks’ notice to headline UFC Fight Night 139 with Chan Sung Jung (14-4). Both fighters are looking to rebuild their fighting careers, with Rodriguez coming off a crippling defeat against Frankie Edgar and Jung taking on just his second fight in five years.

Rodriguez had a flare up with the UFC higher-ups that almost saw him cut from the promotion, while Jung was forced into two years of military service in South Korea. With Zombie at 10th on the official featherweight rankings and Rodriguez at 15th, both fighters are looking to make a statement with this fight.

True to his namesake, Korean Zombie is a fighter who loves to move forward and take the fight to his opponent. That makes him extremely hittable, which we saw in his last fight against Dennis Bermudez, but it also means he’s often able to dictate the range and pace of his fights.

By applying constant pressure and backing Rodriguez up against the cage, Jung can remove the threat of Rodriguez’ flashy Taekwondo kicks.

This could make for a disastrous stylistic match-up for Rodriguez. As a kicking specialist, he struggles when forced to fight moving backwards. By applying constant pressure and backing Rodriguez up against the cage, Jung can remove the threat of Rodriguez’ flashy Taekwondo kicks. Also, by closing the distance, Jung can force Rodriguez to rely on his subpar boxing and clinchwork. Without adequate space, Rodriguez won’t be able to set up his kicks.

Tale of the Tape: Chan Sung Jung vs Yair Rodriguez

Then there’s Jung’s ground game. The Korean already has two spectacular submissions in the UFC. His Twister against Leonard Garcia in 2011 won Submission of the Year, and his D’Arce choke against Dustin Poirier was the perfect finish to a grappling masterful grappling exhibition. As we saw in his last fight, Rodriguez is a fish out of water on the mat.

Substance beats style, as Frankie Edgar demonstrated when he mauled Rodriguez earlier last year.

Rodriguez is one of the most exciting fighters to watch. His spinning kicks are extremely pleasing to the eye when they connect, and he’s able to piece up lesser opponents in devastating fashion with his combinations. But while his fighting style may be extremely fan friendly, it’s not particularly effective against top-ranked opponents. Substance beats style, as Frankie Edgar demonstrated when he mauled Rodriguez earlier last year.

It’s always worrying when a fighter relies too heavily on their chin, and there will come a time when Korean Zombie will be forced to either adjust or retire. But for now, his aggressive brand of brawling works for him. Rodriguez is a dangerous but limited fighter, and Jung could neutralize any threat simply by controlling the range.

Pick: Chan Sung Jung (-140)