Issue 128
May 2015
If you thought judo and mixed martial arts would be the best of friends due to the storied success of Ronda Rousey in the UFC then you’d be sorely mistaken. Jean-Luc Rouge, president of the International Judo Federation, has banned French members from teaching MMA.
MMA is currently illegal in France and Rouge told French sports magazine L’Equipe that members caught coaching mixed martial arts will be cut by the French Judo Federation.
“All those who teach do not have the right and are liable to be written off,” he said. “They put the Federation in trouble and if there is serious injury, it will be my fault.”
Bertrand Amoussou-Guenou, president of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and former French international judoka, believes Rouge’s stance against MMA is unacceptable. “It is significant that 80% of the 515,000 participants of judo in France are under 12 years old,” he countered.
“Also, many judo teachers have multi-discipline academies which allow for them to teach other disciplines besides judo. We will wait for the reaction of these coaches, but I do not think Rougé’s threat is an effective approach since federations only exist thanks to their members.”
Earlier in the year, Rouge was a key player in canceling the European Judo Championships – destined for Glasgow, Scotland – after the British Judo Association announced sponsorship from the UFC to stage the event.
Beijing, China: UFC announces Chinese digital deal
The UFC’s attempts to gain a foothold in China were boosted significantly after the promotion confirmed a long-term deal to screen events on Chinese digital sports platform, PPTV.
News of the UFC’s partnership will be music to the ears of Chinese MMA fans as live events will now be streamed to PPTV’s 260 million viewers. The broadcast will also be shown in their native language for the first time.
“This landmark deal displays the rapid growth and demand for premium MMA content in China,”
Ken Berger, EVP and general manager of UFC Asia explained. “There is a real upward trend of MMA taking hold in the region with increased engagement amongst fans and more and more athletes dedicating their lives to becoming the best they can be.
“PPTV have always been a valued supporter of the UFC, we couldn’t be happier to grow our partnership with them this year.”
7 million
The first season of TUF: Latin America was a resounding success. An average of seven million viewers watched each episode of the show in Mexico.
Melbourne, Australia: Victorian government rescinds ban on cage
No sooner had the local government in Victoria, Australia overturned an outdated seven-year ban on fighters competing in a cage, than the UFC confirmed a numbered pay-per-view event Down Under.
While mixed martial arts has always been legal in Victoria, the use of a cage was illegal and could’ve landed a promoter a 12-month jail term or a $12,000 fine.
However, Daniel Andrews, the premier of the state, finally overturned the decision at the beginning of March after deliberating with the sport’s regulators. And within 48 hours confirmation that UFC 193 would take place in Melbourne on November 14th was released.
1,721 days
When the UFC returns to Australia for its pay-per-view card in November, it will have been 1,721 days since the last time a numbered event was held Down Under. UFC 127 was staged in Sydney in February 2011.
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