MMA in China hits new heights

With 1.3 billion people and a long culture of martial arts, it would make sense that China be targeted as a growth market for MMA. The UFC rules the roost in North America and Europe, while various promotions jostle for viewers in Japan, Brazil and elsewhere.

As all eyes are on the big name shows, it is easy for some hard-working local promoters to go completely unnoticed. Art of War held their 12th event in May this year, but it would be no exaggeration to say that the first 11 passed most MMA fans by.

With the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, backing them Art of War put on a spectacular event that drew many high-profile MMA figures from around the world, including Rickson, Renzo, Royce and Royler Gracie, Pat Miletich, ‘Big’ John McCarthy and more.

For more info on Art of War go to MMAChina.com.

Machida ain’t the only karate guy

The half-Japanese, half-Brazilian Lyoto Machida started his career in Japan, and, when he left to go and fight in the USA, the Japanese were keen to find another karate-based fighter to get behind.

In stepped Andrews Nakahara. Remarkably, Nakahara is another half-Japanese, half-Brazilian fighter, and whereas Machida’s background is in Shotokan karate, Nakahara is a Kyokushin fighter.

Twenty-six years old, Nakahara only has three fights to his name, but he performed admirably in his MMA debut against Kazushi Sakuraba and has since scored two strong TKO wins in DREAM. Keep an eye on this one.

WEC “in Mexico in 2010”

World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the Zuffa-owned sister promotion to the UFC, is set to host events in Mexico in 2010, Fighters Only has learned. A source close to the organization said that due to the increasing popularity of the brand among Spanish-speaking fans, Mexico is considered a prime territory for expansion and that they anticipate events on Mexican soil “by next year”.

The WEC features many fighters of Hispanic origin, and 135lb champion Miguel Torres (as featured on page 33 of this issue) regularly conducts press tours in the country.

Their last event saw Mike Brown defend his title against Urijah Faber in front of over 13,000 fans in Sacramento, California. The next scheduled event takes place in Las Vegas on August 9 and sees reigning bantamweight champion Miguel Torres take on challenger Brian Bowles.

You ain’t cutting the Caveman’s hair

Clay Guida is as well known for his long locks of hair as he is for his hyperactive fighting style. According to Guida, Dana White tried to get him to cut his hair as the developers behind UFC 2009 Undisputed could not include a character with a do like Guida’s.

“Dana White offered me $10,000 to cut it,” said Guida. “First it was $5,000, and then $10,000, and I laughed. I told him to add a couple zeros and we’ll talk. The hair’s here to stay. It’s part of my style, part of my trademark.”

Coming soon: the 2009 World MMA Awards!

After the success of the inaugural World MMA Awards last year they’re back bigger and better than before. Launched in 2008 as an annual event, the Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards were created to give fans a voice within the industry. Thousands worldwide responded by nominating and voting for their winners in 15 categories.

Award categories have been increased allowing you to recognize the efforts of individuals in all areas of Mixed Martial Arts. If that wasn’t enough excitement for you we have some very special announcements due in the coming weeks and every fan who nominates for the awards will be automatically entered into our Awards prize draw.

Keep an eye on www.worldmmaawards.com for more details.

Dana: the door is still open for Fedor

He’s a fickle guy, Dana White. One minute he’s talking shit on a guy, the next minute they’re best friends. While Fedor probably isn’t on Dana’s Christmas card list just yet, White seems to have become more relaxed about the Russian as of late.

“Regarding Fedor, he either wants to come over and fight here or he doesn’t. If he came over and wanted to fight I’d do a deal with him in a minute. You know we’ve been chasing him since we bought Pride. In my opinion, I think it’s going to happen,” said White.

White’s relationship with the “crazy Russians” who manage Fedor means that it’d be difficult for them to ever come to an agreement, but White is still adamant that the UFC would be the best home for him. “He’d be crazy not to [fight for us]. I mean, why not? He’ll come over here and make a bunch of money and maybe even win the title and go down in history as the greatest heavyweight ever.”

Got Fight? Forrest does

Self deprecating curmudgeon and ‘quiet jerk’ Forrest Griffin has put pen to paper and come out with an unsurprisingly individual book on the subject of ‘hand to face’ combat.

Like the official launch said, “Wondering why you should purchase this book when there are other titles on the shelves written by much higher-caliber fighters? Well, Forrest Griffin is not as good-looking as those guys. He’s not as smart as them. He’s also not as athletically endowed. And let’s face it, neither are you. Those other fighters are pretty much better than you in every way. But you can actually aspire to be as good as Forrest one day. Why? Because he is nothing special, just like you.”

Just like in Fight Club, Forrest seems to be keen to let everyone know you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. His goal with this book is to offer a manifesto “more strategic than Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and more philosophical than Bruce Lee’s Tao of Jeet Kune Do”.

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