‘The Ultimate Fighter: China’ cast revealed, series debuts Dec. 7

‘The Ultimate Fighter: China’ cast revealed, series debuts Dec. 7


The inaugural edition of “The Ultimate Fighter: China” debuts on Dec. 7, and the 16-fighter cast for the series has been revealed.

Eight featherweights and eight welterweights will be divided into teams coached by the UFC’s first Chinese fighter, Tiequan Zhang, and Chinese mixed-martial-artist Hailin Ao. Former Strikeforce champion Cung Le serves as mentor and chief coach.

“The inaugural ‘The Ultimate Fighter: China’ is a ground-breaking program and is an unprecedented initiative for any global sports league in China,” Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC Asia Mark Fischer stated. “With national distribution through Liaoning Satellite TV, and the support from our presenting sponsors Cotai Strip Resorts Macao and Marina Bay Sands of the program, we will not only discover and develop the next generation of UFC fighters from China, but also introduce the UFC to millions of new fans across China.”

According to the UFC’s official release, Liaoning Satellite TV reaches more than 830 million viewers across China. UFC officials have yet to reveal if the series will be available for viewing outside of the host country.

The 16 fighters will each compete in a single-elimination tournament, with the two division winners crowned in finale bouts set to take place in March at The Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena. The UFC made its Chinese debut in November 2012 with “UFC on FUEL TV 6: Franklin vs. Le,” which also took place at Macau’s CotaiArena.

The list of 16 finalists was selected from more than 150 applicants and hail from China, the U.S., Canada and Malaysia. The competitors include:

FEATHERWEIGHT

Chong Allen Solomon, 31, Malaysia
Fu Changxin, 21, China
Lee Chunhan, 26, Chinese Taipei
He Jianwei, 24, China
Ning Guangyou, 32, China
Shih Liang, 35, U.S.
Yang Jianping, 25, China
Yao Zhikui, 22, China
WELTERWEIGHT

Cheng Albert, 27, Canada
Dong Xin, 21, China
Li Jinying, 26, China
Wang Anying, 22, China
Wang Sai, 27, China
Wu Qize, 25, China
Zhang Lipeng, 22, China
Zhu Qingxiang, 30, China
(Pictured: Cung Le)

Good cast, honestly. Should be a fun season. I'm guessing we'll also see Le and Jumabieke on the Macau card.

racist ass ufc

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:racist ass ufc

Um...what?

Shrug. Never heard of any of them.

backdoor to zuffa wrote:Shrug. Never heard of any of them.

Chinese MMA is still in its relative infancy.

Wang Sai and Zhang Lipeng both fought in Legend FC off.the.top of.my head.

ufc is doing racist stuff toward Asian fan community base way they think it is so racist. ufc think all Asian are Chinese that's why they put  him on that card. ufc who doesn't understand race culture.

They always slap Cung Le on this China stuff. It is quite racialist.

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:ufc is doing racist stuff toward Asian fan community base way they think it is so racist. ufc think all Asian are Chinese that's why they put  him on that card. ufc who doesn't understand race culture.

He's a Sanshou practitioner. You know, a CHINESE MARTIAL ART. It doesn't really matter if he's Vietnamese and I don't.think.they'll be having a card in Ho Chi Minh any time soon.

I think a better example of their.lack of cultural understanding is.when they put so many South Korean fighters on a Japan card.

I also think its cool that they signed Hailin Ao. Haven't heard from him in quite awhile.

[quote="wekka"]

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:ufc is doing racist stuff toward Asian fan community base way they think it is so racist. ufc think all Asian are Chinese that's why they put  him on that card. ufc who doesn't understand race culture.

He's a Sanshou practitioner. You know, a CHINESE MARTIAL ART. It doesn't really matter if he's Vietnamese and I don't.think.they'll be having a card in Ho Chi Minh any time soon.

I think a better example of their.lack of cultural understanding is.

wekka wrote:when they put so many South Korean fighters on a Japan card.[/quote

]
That so werid come to think about it.

Ugh. Stay away from second home UFC!

Honestly, this will probably be huge in China, if it gets some advertising push behind it. They love reality tv and martial arts. It'll probably work. I'll be watching it for sure. Curious how much press it will get in the U.S.

BTW, I think Ben Henderson made an appearance on here too. I remember him mentiong doing some filming for it on twitter.

That shit doesn't work in China because it a different culture believe in their  support using business.you like ranma 1/2 comic

backdoor to zuffa wrote:They always slap Cung Le on this China stuff. It is quite racialist.

Yo, very racialist indeed.  Shoutouts to Ali G.  

what up

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:That shit doesn't work in China because it a different culture believe in their  support using business.you like ranma 1/2 comic

I take it this post is directed at me. What are you saying will not work in China? The Ultimate Fighter? And because of the culture they will support their own business? Reality tv is huge in China, especially the competition and game show variety. Martial arts television shows are even bigger. You mix the two and it is chocolate and peanut butter to the Chinese. I anticipate it introducing a lot of Chine to MMA under the brand name of the UFC. In other words if this show takes off, then MMA=UFC to the Chinese. I already saw a hint of it in the Muay Thai gym I went to there. The two people who knew how to grapple there would say "UFC" to me when they wanted to do some grappling. That is what will happen there and is the Ferttita's game plan. I pray that it will not happen and that the Chinese will keep watching Voice of China instead while MMA grows in China in some other more natural way.

i rather support ruff from china who build the maket over there.

i agree with you some part but i'll bet on onefc to get the market first because they studied each country's culture because every country is different from each other.