Making Asia's global MMA organization

Jung bets on China to take Road FC to next level

By Jung Min-ho

The past year has been a time of great success for Jung Mun-hong, chief of the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion organization in Korea.

His company, Road FC, held its first major event in China, Dec. 26 last year, which turned out to be a massive hit with 35 million TV viewers. The local fans’ enthusiasm earned the organization a three-year broadcasting contract with CCTV. Three more successful events have since been held in the country.

“The contract was an amazing opportunity, and we have made the most of it,” Jung said in an interview. “Meanwhile, we have taken big steps forward to make Road FC the best and biggest MMA brand in Asia.”

As part of the ambitious goal, he also plans to open Road FC Park in northern Beijing early next year. “This will be the place where MMA fans can work out in a gym, buy T-shirts with the face of their favorite fighters and enjoy other entertainment facilities,” he said.

He believes Road FC will make greater achievements in the year of 2017. One of them is to significantly boost its fan base in China ― and hopefully beyond the country ― by holding a fighting competition with the biggest-ever prize money.

In the tournament, which is expected to begin in May, 32 winners of preliminary bouts from across the world will compete for the prize money of $1 million. For now, competition is only for the lightweight division, but it could be offered in other weight classes depending on participation, Jung said.

It is no secret that Chinese market is tough for foreign companies, and poor performance of many global firms in various business areas have long proved it. The MMA business is no exception; the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s largest MMA promotion, is also struggling to make headway there despite its heavy investment.

He said the reason Road FC was able to pull off some significant business deals was to share significant control with local business people.

“We do not try to keep complete control in our business, believing that, if we do so, the local business people and fans would not accept us,” Jung said. “The owner of our local unit is Chinese, who works with many Chinese employees. We all share the fruits of our business production and exchange opinions to make important decisions.”

That, he reckons, is one of the reasons why Road FC has been received well in China. “Few foreign companies are willing to give up things to take as much as we do there,” he said.

At the same time, Jung wants to cement the brand of Road FC as a powerful content creator, which is especially appealing to Asian fans. The company has prepared to break into markets in Southeast Asia after holding its first major event in Japan last year.

“Some years ago, many people said Road FC would never be able to make this far,” he said. “And it has been my pleasure to prove them wrong.”