High Five: Aldo Beats Zombie, Retains Title - UFC 163 Main Event Results

It likely wasn’t the way UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo expected he would win his fifth title defense Saturday night, but the hometown favorite will take it, as he capped off a dominant performance in the UFC 163 main event at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro with a fourth round stoppage of Chan Sung Jung that was aided by a shoulder injury suffered by “The Korean Zombie.”

With the win, Aldo improves to 23-1; Jung falls to 13-4.

Jung flurried to start off his first championship fight, coming up short with each shot. Aldo jabbed at his foe, using it as a range finder, and a minute in, he found that range with a hard overhand right. Jung took it well, but the punches he threw in response again found air, as Aldo’s defense was airtight. With 1:40 left, Aldo scored with his first leg kick, even though it wasn’t flush, and a minute later the champion got a quick takedown, then added a spinning kick with 30 seconds left to add to his first round lead.

Looking to open up a bit more in the second, Jung did get Aldo’s attention, but he also ate some shots for his trouble, and each solid blow appeared to knock the Zombie off balance slightly, leaving him less than willing to keep the pressure on. The final minute saw a takedown from Aldo, who kept his foe on his back until round’s end.

A flying knee attempt by Jung was greeted by a double leg takedown by Aldo early in round three, adding to the Zombie’s woes as he attempted to get off the mat, and with 3:15 left he got to his feet. Aldo kept him locked up against the fence and scored with another takedown. Aldo wasn’t doing anything with the takedown, forcing a restart by referee Herb Dean with 1:42 remaining. Back standing, Jung began throwing haymakers, but he wasn’t able to do anything to Aldo, who bulled the Seoul product to the fence. Jung tried for a choke, but Aldo wasn’t having it.  A flurry of activity by Jung as the round ended showed some signs of life from the challenger, but not enough to steal the frame.

With two rounds left, Jung had to go on the attack to pull the upset, but early in the stanza, an overhand right popped the Zombie’s shoulder out. Jung gamely tried to snap it back in, but as he did, Aldo went on the attack. As Jung hit the deck, Aldo followed, with a barrage of unanswered strikes prompting a stoppage by Dean at the 2:00 mark.

“Yes, I did see that he separated his shoulder so I kicked him and tried to put him on the ground so I could ground and pound,” said the 26-year-old Aldo.