Max Holloway always jokes that Las Vegas is like the ninth island of Hawaii thanks to the ovation he receives there but he might soon anoint South Korea as the 10th following his arrival there on Sunday.
The ex-UFC featherweight champion got off a plane where he was greeted by former opponent “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung alongside hundreds of fans excited to see him in person.
The raucous reaction earned a smile from Holloway as the fans erupted after he stepped off the plane where he’s expected to spend some time training with “The Korean Zombie” while he’s in town.
Of course, Holloway praised “The Korean Zombie” before and after their fight in 2023, which served as the final bout of Jung’s legendary career.
“This man’s a f*cking legend,” Holloway said just after their fight ended. “He’s Korean Zombie for a reason. The man is a myth, a legend.”
While Jung is retired, he’s stayed busy building his new Z Fight Night series in South Korea while Holloway is preparing for his return to the lightweight division after declaring his plans to move on from competing at featherweight following a loss to Ilia Topuria this past October.
Nothing has been determined yet for Holloway’s next fight, although rumors have swirled that he may end up facing Dustin Poirier later this year. Poirier announced his plans to retire after his next fight and a third bout against Holloway might just serve as the perfect way to say goodbye to the sport.
Before any of that happens, Holloway will spend some time in South Korea and it appears he’s already been welcomed with open arms.