Maga’s favourite combat sport takes off in China

{"text":[[{"start":6.66,"text":"The Ultimate Fighting Championship is looking to build on its presence in China as the combat sport beloved of US President Donald Trump hosted a record-breaking fight night in the country."}],[{"start":17.42,"text":"More than 16,000 fans attended last weekend’s UFC event in Shanghai — more than any previously held in China — to witness a surprise knockout victory for homegrown bantamweight Song Yadong."}],[{"start":29.76,"text":"The UFC, which held its first mainland China event in 2017, returned to Shanghai last year after a Covid-19-related pause. It is now betting its audience will grow in a country with a long history of martial arts, from the kung fu popularised globally by Bruce Lee to Sanda, a variety of kickboxing."}],[{"start":48.32,"text":"“We’re making our way back, and our intention is certainly to have this consistent presence and schedule as far as events are concerned,” said Kevin Chang, vice-president and head of Asia for UFC, who added the sport was “re-establishing that mission” in China."}],[{"start":63.04,"text":"“We just have a lot more to talk about these days.”"}],[{"start":66.5,"text":"The Las Vegas-based UFC, part of TKO Group Holdings, is often associated domestically with America’s Maga movement, and held a special event on the lawn of the White House in June attended by Trump."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":79.02,"text":"But the promotion company — which has a broad global footprint from Brazil to the Middle East — has sought to carve out a bigger role in China, home to a vast viewership market where global sports from Formula 1 to golf have made inroads."}],[{"start":92.44,"text":"The UFC launched a 92,000 sq ft Performance Institute in Shanghai in 2019 — the first to be opened outside of Las Vegas — and now has 20 fighters from the country among its roster of hundreds of athletes, around half of whom are from outside the US."}],[{"start":108.36,"text":"“Our goal is to really see the proliferation of Asian martial arts and Chinese mixed martial artists, you know, succeed in the UFC,” said Chang."}],[{"start":117.16,"text":"Song, a 28-year-old from Harbin in northern China, was greeted with a deafening roar by the Shanghai crowd on his entry to the ring last weekend, only for the decibel count to be surpassed minutes later as he knocked out odds-on favourite Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in the second round."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":138.98,"text":"“I only want to say three words: hai you shei [who else]?” Song exclaimed into the microphone following jubilant celebrations in the Shanghai arena that capped off days of events."}],[{"start":146.42,"text":"Zhang Weili, a female fighter in the strawweight division, became the first Chinese champion in the UFC in 2019. Her victory marked a “turning point” in China, said Chang, who added that the sport had 18mn followers on social media in the country."}],[{"start":163.64,"text":"“Our thesis, and I don’t think that’s rocket science, is proven by Yao Ming,” he said, referring to the Chinese basketball player whose NBA success spurred the sport’s development in the 2000s."}],[{"start":175.16,"text":"“You do need that local star in order to build around,” he added. “You need that to become relevant and mainstream in a market.”"}],[{"start":183.24,"text":"Ian Moore, an analyst at Bernstein, said: “China remains a key market that appears to still be underserved — especially if Song Yadong can continue his path towards potentially becoming the second ever Chinese UFC champion.”"}],[{"start":197.12,"text":"He added that the local media rights fees “could see a sizeable future step-up in five years as the sport’s domestic fan base continues to grow”."}],[{"start":205.96,"text":"The UFC in March renewed until 2031 a relationship with Migu, part of China Mobile, to be the exclusive distributor for live events in Greater China."}],[{"start":216.68,"text":"TKO Group Holdings, which owns both the UFC and wrestling promotion company WWE, had net income of $546mn last year on revenues of $4.7bn. The company’s chief executive, Ari Emanuel, is the brother of prominent Democrat and former ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel."}],[{"start":237.2,"text":"Additional reporting by Samuel Agini in London"}],[{"start":243.44,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788751601_9716.mp3"}