Pros react to the Korean Zombie’s impressive return to the cage

Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s latest trip to Houston, Texas, fan favorite featherweight Chan Sung Jung – better known by his nickname “The Korean Zombie” – returned to the cage after a hiatus of more than three years. He did so against long-time featherweight contender Dennis Bermudez.

Despite his long time away from the cage, the Korean Zombie looked incredible in his anticipated comeback fight, baiting his foe into a brawl, where he ultimately crumbled him with a beautifully timed uppercut for a first-round win.

Unsurprisingly, the South Korean’s crushing knockout victory generated plenty of excitement from the MMA community. Here are a few of the best reactions to his epic return to the Octagon.

The @KoreanZombieMMA is back!!!!! #ufckorea

— danawhite (@danawhite) February 5, 2017

Big fan of the @KoreanZombieMMA Well done tonight. @FS1

— michael (@bisping) February 5, 2017

Slick head movement and uppercut! Welcome back Zombie! Lots of fun match-ups ahead! #UFCHouston

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) February 5, 2017

Ohhhhhh shitttt!!!! @ufc #UFCHouston #koreanzombie

— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) February 5, 2017

You can't even kill Korean zombies with headshots! #UFCHouston

— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) February 5, 2017

Wowwww the zombie is still alive 💀

— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) February 5, 2017

Just when it looked like Zombie might be in trouble, he KO's Bermudez. #UFCHOUSTON

— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) February 5, 2017

Korean Zombi is back in a impressive performance. Outstanding #UFCHOUSTON @ufc

— Roan Jucao (@jucao) February 5, 2017

BOOM! Damn the @KoreanZombieMMA came back like he never left!

— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) February 5, 2017

HELL YEAH ZOMBIE!!

— David Michaud (@bulldawg_170) February 5, 2017

Peek a boo 👊🏽💥 @ufc

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) February 5, 2017

Zombie vs Cub?

— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) February 5, 2017

Definitely some ring rust but he dusted it off like a champ! Welcome back KZ 👏🏽 #UFCHouston

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) February 5, 2017

WOW! @KoreanZombieMMA coming back with fire!!! #UFCHOUSTON

— Court McGee (@Court_McGee) February 5, 2017

Wow. Beautifully timed uppercut by The Korean Zombie! ⚡️🥊🤘🏼#UFCHOUSTON

— Nicolas “Danish Dynamite” Dalby (@DalbyMMA) February 5, 2017

Congrats to Jung aka The Korean Zombie! Been a fan of his since the WEC. Was pulling for Dennis, as he was looking great too.#UFCHOUSTON

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 5, 2017

Congrats to @KoreanZombieMMA …. not my night. I'm sure we'll met again.

— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) February 5, 2017

With his thudding knockout of Dennis Bermudez, the Korean Zombie finally returns to the win column after an August 2013 loss to Jose Aldo. This loss, which marked a failed bid to swipe the UFC featherweight title, saw the Korean star dislocate his shoulder, only to be pounded out by punches as he tried to reset this injury. Prior to that loss to Aldo, the Korean Zombie was on an incredible, three-fight win-streak as he first tapped Leonard Garcia with the only twister to ever occur in the Octagon, then flattened Mark Hominick in just seven seconds for one of the quickest KOs in UFC history,  and finally, submitted Dustin Poirier in one of the best fights ever. Needless to say, there is a reason the South Korean featherweight is so loved by fans.

Bermudez, meanwhile, has a two-fight win-streak snapped by this loss. In his last two fights, he scored decision defeats of Tatsuya Kawajiri and Rony “Jason” Bezerra. This is just the second knockout loss of his 22-fight career, and the first that was dealt with punches.

What did you think of the Korean Zombie’s jaw-dropping return to the Octagon? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/3/2017.