BREAKING: Anthony Pettis Injured, Korean Zombie Steps into UFC 163 Title Fight Against Jose Aldo
A controversial title fight between No. 1 lightweight contender Anthony Pettis and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been sidelined.
Pettis injured his knee, forcing him out of the UFC 163 headliner. Chan Sung Jung, aka “The Korean Zombie,” has agreed to step in and take his place, challenging Aldo for the belt.
UFC president Dana White on Friday tweeted news of the change.
Pettis hurt his knee, Korean Zombie will now face Jose Aldo for the title on the Aug card in Rio Brazil.
— Dana White (@danawhite) June 14, 2013
Pettis became the No. 1 contender at lightweight following his first-round TKO stoppage of Donald Cerrone in January. Not wanting to wait around for his shot, Pettis asked for and received the fight to challenge for Aldo's featherweight title, leading Aldo's camp to complain that Pettis was essentially cutting in line.
Jung (13-3) and Ricardo Lamas (13-2) were both already on the cusp of a shot at the 145-pound belt, and were slated to fight each other at UFC 162 on July 6. But now, with Pettis dropping out of the fight, Jung got the call to step in and challenge Aldo at UFC 163 on Aug. 3 in Rio de Janeiro.
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