Park Jaebeom slapped by UFC Ortega, dissatisfied with Jung Chansung's interpretation saying "he ran away"

Photo by Park Jaebeom World Tour Poster

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hyesoo] It was revealed by an American journalist that Park Jaebeom was slapped by UFC fighter Ortega.

On the 8th (Korean time), Ariel Helwani, an ESPN reporter, posted on his Twitter that he heard this directly from Park Jaebeom. According to Ariel Helwani, while Jung Chan-sung was in the restroom, Ortega asked Park Jaebeom, who was nearby, "Are you Jay Park (= Park Jaebeom)?" When Park Jaebeom answered "Yes," Ortega slapped him. Ariel Helwani also added, "It seemed that Ortega was dissatisfied with Park Jaebeom's interpretation."

In response, fellow UFC fighter Angela Hill quoted Ariel Helwani's tweet, saying, "This happened right in front of my eyes. I felt like I was back in high school trying to stop a fight, shouting 'Don't do that!!!'"

In 2019, Jung Chan-sung and Ortega were scheduled to face off at the UFC Korea event held in Busan. However, it was canceled due to Ortega's cruciate ligament injury. Regarding this, Jung Chan-sung said in an interview with Ariel Helwani last month, "(Ortega) already ran away from me once," and Park Jaebeom, who was with him, translated the words exactly. It is presumed that the interpretation issue Ortega took offense to was this interview.

Ortega expressed hostility toward both Jung Chan-sung and Park Jaebeom, and especially toward Park Jaebeom, he warned, "You're welcome to come watch my fight. But don't be surprised if I hit you when we meet. Injury and running away are different," according to multiple media reports.

Jung Chan-sung, famous as the Korean Zombie, was invited as a guest fighter at UFC 248 held in Las Vegas that day, attending together with Park Jaebeom, the CEO of his agency AOMG. It was here that Park Jaebeom suffered the slap incident.