Sengoku ‘Ninth Battle’ Preview

Dream Featherweight Grand Prix Reserve Match
Chan Sung Jung (6-1) vs. Matt Jaggers (14-6)

The Storyline: To please the ever-important Korean audience, 22-year-old Jung was brought back to take on Indiana’s Jaggers. Japanese promoters cast a covetous eye on the young aikido player after he won a decision over Michihiro Omigawa a year ago. A win over Jaggers would set up Jung nicely for a deeper run in the Sengoku featherweight division.

Jaggers made things as difficult as possible for King of Pancrase Marlon Sandro in the tournament’s opening round, but he was eventually choked unconscious by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. The American has since bounced back successfully, submitting debutant Peter Dominguez at the Bellator Fighting Championships stop in Dayton, Ohio, in May.

The Breakdown: Despite his young age, Jung -- who trains with fellow Sengoku veteran Seung Hwan Bang and UFC fighter Dong Hyun Kim at CMA Korea -- has already emerged as a well-rounded fighter with good composure, decent submission skills and solid boxing. Considering the experience he has gained in the last six months, he should only improve.

With all due respect to Jaggers, just one of his 14 wins has come over an opponent with a winning record. Consequently, he was brought in by Sengoku booker Tadashi Saijo, who expected him to lose to Sandro. The same holds true here, as Jaggers seems to have been asked back as a stepping stone for the Korean.

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The Prediction: Jung will put pressure on the American from the opening bell, slap a rear-naked choke on Jaggers and win by submission just before the end of the first round.