Alexander Volkanovski beats Korean Zombie, retains UFC featherweight title

Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has retained his UFC featherweight title with a masterclass performance, stopping South Korea's Chan Sung Jung in the fourth round in Jacksonville, Florida.

Volkanovski's speed and variety were too much for his outgunned opponent, also known as the Korean Zombie, peppering his face with a multitude of left jabs.

Together with left and right-hand power punches, take-downs, knees and elbows, Volkanovski controlled the fight.

He floored the challenger in the last 15 seconds of the third round with a big right-hand punch.

He then landed a couple of right hands early in the fourth round, prompting referee Herb Dean to halt the fight after 45 seconds.

Volkanovski — who won the title from Max Holloway in December, 2019 — remains unbeaten in the UFC, winning all 11 of his fights.

«All week I said, 'I'm on another level right now. I can't be stopped' and I just showed youse (sic),» Volkanovski said.

«He actually took a lot more than I wanted him to. I thought they could have stopped it a bit earlier. I started feeling bad in there.»

It was the first stoppage win in Volkanovski's last five fights.

The 33-year-old from Windang on the New South Wales South Coast has an overall 24-1 record in MMA combat, having won 21 straight since his only loss in May 2013.

The fourth-ranked Korean Zombie, who also challenged unsuccessfully for the title in 2013, stepped in as the opponent after two-time Volkanovski victim Holloway pulled out with an injury.

AAP