KZ:"Jose Aldo was much weaker as a person than I thought. Mendes stronger as person."

[Hufusopem]

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How did you get to know Denis Kang?

He told me a while ago he would come live in South Korea and when he came he visited my gym. He taught me a lot of techniques that only a world class fighter would know. I learned so much from him. He is a great hyung (older brother).

Do you spar with him often?

I learned a lot about cage wrestling and jiu jitsu. He actually doesn't like to do too much standup sparring and avoids it. He says he’s too old for that now (laughs). He teaches me so much about grappling and wrestling. I plan to visit his new gym often.

How is your shoulder?

I can do jiu jitsu and basically everything else. It’s not 100 percent yet. It’s hard for me to throw big swinging punches still. My left shoulder was like that too, but it eventually healed. I'm hoping the same happens to my other shoulder.

What do you think about the upcoming match between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes?

I have fought Aldo and trained with Chad Mendes. Beyond technique and all that stuff, as a person Mendes is stronger. I sensed that he was strong while sparring with him. While Aldo is much weaker as a person than I had thought. I think I was a bit intimated and overestimated Aldo in our fight. I want Aldo to win, but I have a feeling Mendes will beat him.

Why do you want Aldo to win?

There is a part of me that wants revenge. I said this before my fight with Aldo, but my biggest and first true goal in my MMA career was beating Aldo. I can’t see anyone else as champion yet. So I want Aldo to still remain Champion

When’s your next fight?

Around September. The fights I am getting offered are Clay Guida, Dustin Poirier, and Dennis Bermudez. Everyone else is either injured or has a fight already.

When do you think your fight will be officially announced?

I think the fight will be revealed around May. Based on the opponent, I will train for different scenarios. I basically train the way I have always trained. My shoulder is not yet 100 percent, but I trust it will get better. I just want to have a fun fight.

Anything you want to say for the fans?

I felt a lot of different things after watching my senior Dong Hyun Kim’s fights. He really left a big impact on me. He made me realize that for an MMA fighter it’s not about being entertaining on variety shows or talking in the media, you have to express yourself in the cage. That’s the correct and cool way for an MMA fighter. For a while I was feeling differently about that, but my senior Dong Hyun Kim made me see I was wrong. I really felt and learned a lot from his fights. In the same way, I am going to show myself in the cage.

 

[Kirin]

Oh hell no. Keep guida away from asians. Lay and pray all the way.

 

[Minnja]

Bermudez is fighting Guida. A Poirer rematch is too soon for one right now imo. Would like to see him fight the Stephens v. Swanson loser. Lamas would be a good fight too but he's already booked.

 

[Augustus Caesar]

Thanks for the translation, interesting perspective by TKZ on the Mendes vs. Aldo rematch.

 

[redbrownhaze]

He didn't seem intimidated to me at all during their fight. He took some chances.

I think anyone that doesn't respect Aldo gets annihilated early in the fight while he's at full power.

Full Bar Aldo is just too deadly!

 

[tjumper78]

i dont want to see poirier-kz rematch YET.
poirier is on a 3 win streak and deserves a top 10 opponent next.
kz should not face a top 10 fighter when he returns from the injury.
their first fight was so f*cking awesome, and i want to see them fight again when theyre both on fire.

 

[HandsomeDevil**]

I've always known Aldo has weak hands. His leg kinda makes up for it but he hardly mixes it up these days it's not to see him win as easy as he used to in WEC.

Barao is a mini WEC Aldo.

 

[Dart Feld]

Damn it, we could have had KZ/Bermudez.

Now we're getting Guida/Bermudez.

 

[MMABr]

I've always known Aldo has weak hands. His leg kinda makes up for it but he hardly mixes it up these days it's not to see him win as easy as he used to in WEC.

Barao is a mini WEC Aldo.

You say Aldo has weak hands, but Renan is a mini version of him? Bar

 

[bad seed]

Oh hell no. Keep guida away from asians. Lay and pray all the way.

KZ easily beats Guida. And yes, he beats Kawajiri and Hioki too.

But he aint beating Aldo.

 

[Kylewood95]

I would love to see KZ vs Bermudez, that fight would be insane

 

[Islam Imamate]

I love these interviews with KZ and DHK. They seem nothing like what one would imagine a fighter would be like and they're usually very candid. You can tell they're from a completely different culture.

 

[xtramob]

Koreans always talk the best shit. See Dong

 

[SimonNova]

Lol he says he wants to fight either Guida, Poirier or Bermudez.

Shelby booked Guida vs Bermudez so I guess we will have a rematch between Poirier and Kz

Stupid Shelby why not Poirier vs Bermudez and Guida (who just fought) vs KZ in Sept?

Shelby is awful

 

[leosgf]

 

[ImPitPatPuncher]

Chan Sung Jung vs Dennis Bermudez would be a great fight eventually.
It could be a war or The Korean Zombie could surprise us all again and give us an exciting while awesome peformance like against Poirier.

 

[DarthChen731]

I thought TS's handle was "HuffingSperm"

 

[iloveufc123]

I wouldn't want to see a rematch between him and Dustin, yet.

Give KZ, Brandao.

 

[Astrovik]

I've always known Aldo has weak hands. His leg kinda makes up for it but he hardly mixes it up these days it's not to see him win as easy as he used to in WEC.

Barao is a mini WEC Aldo.

Please stop. Aldo dropped Hominick twice while coming off a serious sickness and flattened Manny Gamburyan with punches.

 

[Mma Adiction]

Lamas was the fight that had to be made