MMA Fighter Brian Ortega Slaps Jay Park for Translating ‘Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung
By Ryan General
No. 2 ranked featherweight MMA fighter Brian Ortega reportedly engaged in an altercation with rapper Jay Park during UFC 248 on March 7.
Park attended the event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas that night to accompany his friend, No. 4 ranked fighter Chan Sung Jung, better known as “The Korean Zombie.”
According to ESPN journalist Ariel Helwani, a scuffle ensued after Ortega approached Park and slapped him while Jung was using the restroom.
Ortega had reportedly taken offense to Jung’s statement which Park translated during an ESPN interview, MMA Junkie reports.
“It doesn’t matter (if it’s Max) Holloway, (Alexander) Volkanovski, or Ortega,” Jung said through Park. “But Ortega already ducked (me) once. (I) don’t need to fight a fighter that’s already ducked (me) one time.”
Writing in a comment on Instagram, Ortega explained that he reserves his beef with Park as Jung has already apologized when the two met later in Korea.
“When I saw him (Jung) in Korea, he apologized and said sorry for the trash talk, and I said all good because at least you came at me like a man,” Ortega wrote. “Now you just a (expletive) dawg. Jay Park welcome to the fight game don’t be surprised if I slap the (expletive) out of you when I see you. Having an injury and ducking are 2 different things.”
Responding to Ortega’s comments, Park posted on Instagram that Ortega should not pin his anger on him for translating Jung’s statements.“Don’t shoot the messenger/translator,” Park wrote. “Can’t blame the man for trying to shake (expletive) up and get a title shot. Plus he got the performances to back it up. Respect to u for pulling up to Korea for press but (it’s) #teamzombie all day.”
Ortega then confronted Park on Saturday as Jung was inside the restroom. Soon after sparking a commotion by slapping Park, Ortega was escorted by security out of the venue.
Jung’s manager, Iridium Sports Agency’s Jason House, revealed that they already filed a police report about the incident, MMA Junkie reports. According to House, UFC officials specifically told both parties to behave themselves during the event but only his team obliged.
“Both teams were contacted prior to last night’s event and were asked by the UFC to be respectful and to not have any confrontations,” House wrote in a statement to MMA Junkie. “Our team respected the UFC’s request and maintained our professionalism throughout the night. Police reports were filed immediately after the incident occurred and now it’s a matter for law enforcement officials to handle. Korean Zombie has always been a class act and will continue to be. Our objective remains the same; to put ourselves in the best position both inside and outside the cage to become the featherweight champion this year.”
In response to a fan’s question on Twitter about suing Ortega for the alleged assault, Park responded with, “Nah i dont sue ppl who have less than i do.”
Feature Image via (left) Jay Park and (right) Brian Ortega
Share this Article
Share this Article
