Korean-American rapper Jay Park attacked by MMA fighter

We all know you aren't supposed to shoot the messenger, but that adage apparently doesn't mean much to American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Brian Ortega.

The 29-year-old UFC athlete attacked Korean-American rapper Jay Park at a match event on Saturday (March 7) at Las Vegas, all because he didn't like what Jay had translated for Korean fighter Jung Chan-sung during an interview.

According to media reports, Jay, 32, was a translator for Jung — aka The Korean Zombie — for an ESPN interview last month.

Jung, also 32, said through Park: "It doesn't matter [if it's Max] Holloway, [Alexander] Volkanovski, or Ortega. But Ortega already ducked [me] once. [I] don't need to fight a fighter that's already ducked [me] one time."

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Ortega took offence, and soon warned on Instagram: "When I saw [Jung] in Korea, he apologised and said sorry for the trash talk and I said all good 'cause least you came at me like a man.

"Now you just a b**** dawg. Jay Park welcome to the fight game don't be surprised if I slap the s*** out you when I see you. Having an injury and ducking are 2 different things."

Indeed, Ortega slapped Jay when the two crossed paths on Saturday, and security pulled Ortega away. Jay was not injured.

Jung has since posted a strongly-worded response on his Instagram account where he called Ortega a coward.

"Last night, you sat 10 metres away from me and Jay Park. For two hours nothing happened, so I thought everything was fine. But you f***ing attacked Jay Park while I went to the bathroom. Jay Park is not a professional fighter but a musician. You slapped a civilian who merely helped to translate.

"Even worse, you were sitting there waiting until I would be away and attacked Jay Park. It was not a fight like real men would do. What you have done is the same as a grown-up beating a child."

Jay later said on Twitter that he will not be suing Ortega because "I don't sue people who have less than I do." His agency added that the attack was reported to the police, and they would not take separate legal action.

kwokkarpeng@asiaone.com