Brian “T-City” Ortega slapped Korean rap star Jay Park at UFC 248 at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. The surprise assault got Ortega ejected from the arena and now UFC fighter, Chan Sung Jung aka “The Korean Zombie” wants to fight him.
Ortega issued a statement Monday night admitting to slapping Park in the face and he offered an explanation.
“On May 9, 2018, Jay Park signed Korean Zombie to a management contract under AOMG Entertainment, of which Park is the CEO, and soon after the trash talking began. When I finally made it to Korea for the press conference, KZ approached me with his translator (a real one, not Jay Park) and said, “I want to apologize for the trash talking, it was my management that wants to do it to promote the fight.” I accepted his apology, shook his hand and we had a great press conference.
“Soon after I tore my knee, and the fight was cancelled. Four weeks ago, KZ and JP went on Ariel’s (Helwani) show and said I dodged the fight. “Dodging” and “injury” are two separate things, and since I already knew JP was the one writing the script, that’s when I welcomed him to the fight game and warned him to watch his mouth. On Saturday night, I slapped three people a [sic] the same time. I apologize for slapping the “translator,” and I apologize for slapping the “K-pop star,” but I don’t apologize for slapping the ‘instigator’.”
The Genesis
Jung and Ortega were scheduled to square off at UFC on ESPN+ 23 before Ortega withdrew due to injury. However, The Korean Zombie explained Ortega’s withdrawal differently to ESPN through Jay Park who translated.
“But Ortega already ducked (me) once,” said Jung. “(I) don’t need to fight a fighter that’s already ducked (me) one time.”
Ortega saw the Instagram post and wrote a comment as a precursor to Saturday night’s slap.
“When I saw him 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 b*tch 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.”
Park, who has 3.8 million followers on Instagram, responded but might have bitten off a little more then he could chew.
“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 was here for it and reiterated that it was on sight if he ever saw Park.
“In acts of war careful who you message for. Don’t let me see you. As for zombie (I’ll) see you too.”
Ortega didn’t disappoint. He indeed slapped Park on sight. Both Jung and Ortega have no fights booked currently. However, UFC President Dana White has said he is working on a featherweight contender fight between Ortega and Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Either way, we will be sitting here sipping tea while the beef cooks.
