Kingdom MMA Gets Up Close with Victor Cui
by Ben Heather @benheather
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Earlier today Kingdom MMA caught up with Victor Cui the owner and CEO of ONE FC the biggest MMA promotion in Asia. We were able to discuss a whole range of topics including how he got in to MMA, the possibility of signing Paul Daley, Ben Askren as well as the future plans for ONE FC to name a few.
Ben: First of all, thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate that you have taken the time out of what has to be a busy schedule to answer our questions.
I believe you have a back ground in Taekwondo and have a black belt, at what age did you start martial arts and how did you first get into MMA?
Cui: My parents enrolled me into taekwondo at a very young age. That kick started my career in sports. I have been following mixed martial arts since the beginning. I caught tapes of early bouts in the 1990s and fell in love with what I saw. Mixed martial arts was always on my mind as I continued working in sports management.
Ben: You have a background working with some of the biggest organisations in sport such as the PGA, X Games and the Olympics but what made you decide to go it alone and create your own MMA promotion?
Cui: I saw a great opportunity that simply cannot be missed. Mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world. Asia is the birthplace of martial arts with history that dates back thousands of years, so it just makes sense that the best mixed martial arts organisation should come from Asia. You have so many martial arts discipline to draw from such as Washu, Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, Slat etc and now world champions in those disciplines can test themselves against other world champions.
Ben: When you set up ONE FC what made you decide to have your own set of rules instead of the unified rules of MMA?
Cui: One FC wants to take the best practices from the East and the West, and that's what we did with our rule set, our safety precautions and our fighter match ups. That philosophy runs right through the organisation. Both rule sets have a lot to offer and have a strong following from MMA fans.
Ben: Does ONE FC have any plans to expand with events outside of Asia? More specifically a possible UK event?
Cui: The demand of ONE FC all across Asia is at its peak and we will definitely hold a record number of shows in 2014. Our Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines fans were so blown away by our past events and have been clamouring for our return. Fans in North and East Asia will also finally be able to catch a ONE FC show live in person in 2014. The sport is growing so fast in Asia and we want to continue the incredible momentum that we have in Asia. We will never say no though and if we find the right partner and sponsor who wants to bring ONE FC to the UK, we will make sure that the UK fans are blown away by a world-class MMA event!
Ben: Do you have any plans to get a TV deal to show ONE FC events in the UK?
Cui: Along with our unprecedented 10-year broadcast deal with Star Sports in Asia, we will bring ONE FC content to more than a billion potential viewers. We will be on public television in the United Kingdom very soon.
The UK fans are some of the most passionate in the world and their level of knowledge and passion for ONE FC is unrivalled anywhere outside of Asia.
Ben: Would ONE FC have any interest in signing UK welterweight Paul Daley?
Cui: We have an amazing matchmaker in Matt Hume, who is the VP of Operations in ONE FC. He has an incredible team of scouts all across the world looking for talent. We get hundreds of emails everyday of top fighters all around the world looking to compete for ONE FC. I have absolute faith in Matt (Hume) and his team to sign the best talent in the world, and if Paul Daley makes sense for us then we will reach out to him.
Ben: Speaking of Welterweight fighters, you have recently signed Ben Askren. Were you shocked when it was announced that Bellator had let its welterweight champ leave? and did it surprise you that the UFC wasn't interested?
Cui: It is a testament to ONE FC’s global standing that a Top 10 pound-for-pound mixed martial artist like Ben Askren decides to sign with us. Ben Askren’s impressive wrestling credentials joins the stable of world champions from different martial arts in ONE FC’s roster.
Ben: When can we expect to see Ben make his debut for ONE FC?
Cui: I’m sure fans from all over the world are very excited for his debut. Ben will be making his heavily anticipated ONE FC debut in the first half of 2014.
Ben: Do you have any opponents in line for Ben Askren's first fight?
Cui: Ben Askren is on the shortlist to challenge for the ONE FC Welterweight World Championship, and we are looking to find the best fights for him. Our fans in Asia can't wait to see Askren step into the ONE FC cage for the first time and it will be a landmark moment when it happens.
Ben: A big issue in MMA last year was the use of TRT, what is ONE FC's policy for drug testing?
Cui: We have a strict no-nonsense policy when it comes to any form of performing-enhancing chemicals. We have the pleasure of working with a group of professional athletes who have been following the guidelines we have put in place. One of the most important values to me is integrity and it is something I believe everybody should live by.
Our stance is very clear and we will not tolerate illegal drug use.
Ben: In September last year you announced plans for the ONE ASIA Amateur MMA Series which will hold monthly amateur events all across Asia. In my opinion this is brilliant for the sport and will certainly help to promote amateur fighters in Asia. After all, they are the future of the sport and could become future stars.
Have the details for these events now been finalised and when will the first event take place?
Cui: We are looking to roll out the series in phases in 2014. All the bouts will feature a common rule set to ensure a level playing field for amateurs across Asia regardless of where they are from. We already have the top amateurs lined up to compete in the amateur series as they gain experience with the dream of one day competing in ONE FC. We are committed to growing the sport in all levels and this will help groom Asia’s next MMA superstar.
Ben: In 2012 ONE FC put on 5 events, that number increased to 7 events in 2013, how many events do you want to put on this year?
Cui: We are significantly increasing the number of events we will be doing this year. ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS on 14 March will be the first event in a stacked calendar year with at least one event every month after that. We will also expand to new markets across Asia. 2014 will be a groundbreaking year for ONE FC!
Ben: Lets take a look in to the future now, what are your longer term goals for ONE FC in the next 3-5 years?
Cui: The exponential growth that ONE FC has experienced in two years has been incredible. The sky is the limit for ONE FC. If we continue on the current trajectory, we have the potential to surpass the success of any mixed martial arts organisation in history.
Ben: Thank you very much again for your time, we really appreciate it.
Cui: Thank you for having me. ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS take place 14 March from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tune in to onefc.livesport.tv to watch the best mixed martial artists from Asia battle it out in front of a sold-out Stadium Negara.
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