Road FC bout expands its presence to China
.jpg?w=728)
Choi Mu-bae, second from left, poses with American fighter Mighty Mo, second from right, during a press conference in Beijing, Nov. 18. / Courtesy of Road FC
Poster for “Road FC 027” in China / Courtesy of Road FC
By Baek Byung-yeul
Road FC, Korea’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, announced Wednesday that its next events will take place in Shanghai on Dec. 26 as it expands its audience to China.
The local MMA organization revealed its ambition to become as popular as the United States’ Ultimate Fighting Championship organization, when it hosted its first international event last July.
Announcing its Shanghai events, Road FC President Jung Moon-hong said he would like to study “the strong fighters of China, a nation that has a multi-millennial history of martial arts.”
“China is at the center of the world’s martial arts and it is great honor for us to host our event in their country,” Jung told Chinese reporters during a press conference at Marco Polo Parkside in Beijing, China, on Nov. 18.
The former kickboxer established the MMA organization based in Wonju, Gangwon Province, in 2010.
To host successful events there, Jung said Road FC has concluded a sponsorship agreement with Chinese and Korean companies, such as Tencent, Qihoo360, Baidu, Xiamoi and Kakao. With these tech companies, Road FC said it will merge its MMA bout business with video games, virtual reality, animation and automotive electronics.
Among the total of 11 bouts, the highlight of “Road FC 027 in China” will be the eighth match between Choi Mu-bae, 45, and American fighter Mighty Mo, 45, in the unlimited weight class. Road FC said this match was mapped out at the request of Choi who lost to Mo in Road FC 026.
Former Ssireum (Korean wrestler) star Choi Hong-man will fight Chinese fighter Luo Quanahao in the heavyweight match. Choi, the 2.17-meter-tall Korean star, made his return to the octagon, after six years, at Road FC’s event in Japan last July, but ended by losing from a first round knockout against Brazilian fighter Carlos Toyota.