RUFF 4 This Weekend From China

RUFF 4 This Weekend From China

Published on June 27, 2012 by The Editor in RUFF

Ruff 4 from Hohot, Inner Mongolia Indoor Stadium

In a nod to the fact that MMA is a world sport and acknowledging that fans all over the world are interested in following it China’s Ruff does an English language version of it’s website meaning we can follow the news very nicely thank you. I wish the Japanese organizations would also do this. Our website for instance has a big following in North America and Europe as well as the usual SE Asian suspects.

This coming weekend they are presenting RUFF 4 and here is the fight card for the event:

There are a couple of changes to the original card as Lightweight Andy Wang has sprained knee ligaments and will be unable to face Rodrigo Caporal.

Also:

Bantamweight Song YaDong is ineligible due to “documentation issues” what ever that means and therefore that bout against Jumableke Tierxun appears to have been dropped.

But that still leaves a solid 9 bouts.

China’s RUFF although relatively unknown outside of China is targeting it’s home market first and foremost as can be witnessed by their recent decision to sign a deal with America’s Excel Sports Management to handle all sponsorship sales and marketing, their task to reach the millions of Chinese TV consumers with increased TV presence and a comprehensive internet and press campaign.

Just in case Excel means nothing to you think – Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter both clients.

We wish RUFF luck with this event and look forward to seeing some breakout Chinese fighters in future years.

ONE FC ~ Baroni Out ~ Zoro Steps into Face Huerta

ONE FC ~ Baroni Out ~ Zoro Steps into Face Huerta

Published on June 7, 2012 by The Coffee Boy in ONEFC

“Zoro” steps in to face Roger Huerta at ONE FC

So unfortunately, Phil Baroni has been removed from his fight with Roger Huerta after losing his fight at Ring of Fire 43 last weekend to Chris “The Hammer” Holland.  We here at MMA News Asia wish him well and hope he comes back real soon – gotta love the NYBA.

The replacement stepping in for Baroni is none other than the lanky lightweight Brazilian Zorobabel Moreira, who trains out of Evolve MMA over in Singapore.

Zorobabel Moreira (6 – 1) has been on a tear recently, absolutely dominating Andy Wang back in September of 2011, and then submitting Felipe Enomoto in the 3rd round after a back and forth battle between the two at ONE FC 3 in March.

He’s tall, he has great reach, he’s talented, and he’s not someone to mess with. At the lightweight division, it’s hard to see who could best him in either the standup game or the ground game.

But then comes Roger Huerta (21 – 6), a seasoned mixed martial artist having fought some of the best in the UFC, putting on memorable performances against the likes of Clay Guida, Douglas Evans, and Leonard Garcia.

After being dropped from the UFC, Huerta fought for several promotions, and is currently riding a three-fight losing streak. Now back on his feet and preparing at Phuket Top Team he is ready for action, I expect a driven and improved version of the man who once was all the rave after being on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Huerta moved up to the welterweight division recently, and Zorobabel Moreira will be moving up in weight to fight him. This shouldn’t be a big problem for “Zoro”, considering he’s ridiculously tall and could feasibly compete at the middleweight division competitively if he wanted to.

Should this fight excite you? Definitely. This is Roger Huerta’s comeback party. This is Zorobabel Moreira’s chance to beat someone whom many believe to still be an elite-level fighter.

I expect a back and forth brawl, a lot of slick Muay Thai striking, and someone’s going down late in the second round.

Catch Roger Huerta vs Zorobabel Moreira at ONE FC 4 Destiny of Warriors is happening June 23rd in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.