MMA in Beijing: Art of War 12
Friday, 22nd May 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Wu Haotian (right) stares down his opponent before Art of War 11.
The main event features China's Wu Hao Tian against Japanese fighter Yutaka Kobayashi. VIPs in attendance will include the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
(His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan), who is a major investor in Art of War; Michael Buffer ("Let's get ready to rumble!"); and several members of Brazilian jiu jitsu's first family, the Gracies. The fighters come from China, South Korea, Brazil, the United States, Korea, Finland, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Denmark and Russia.
This is the 12th time that Art of War is putting on fights in Beijing, but only the second time the competition is completely government-sanctioned and publicized. The first official show took place about two months ago at Chaoyang Stadium. A dozen pairs of fighters squared off in a boxing-style ring in front of a packed 3,500-seat house. Not only were the fights at Art of War 11 good, but the event was one of the best-produced athletic competitions China has seen outside of the Olympics, complete with drama, hype, smoke and jumbotron instant replay. These guys know how to put on a show.
Mixed martial arts pits fighters against each other in hand-to-hand combat, using whatever fighting styles they want (certain strikes, of course, are off-limits). Also known as MMA, it has surged in popularity in the United States lately--Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, being the most popular organization.
The Art of War crew is looking to hold onto its position as the number one producer of these events in China. The company also operates the Art of War martial arts studio in Beijing, and airs fights via Inner Mongolia satellite TV every Sunday afternoon. It will produce four more competitions in China this year.
Emma Ticketmaster lists the event as sold out, but tickets can still be bought at The Rickshaw sports bar in Beijing (map and info available here).
Keep scrolling for pictures of Art of War 11.
The ring at Chaoyang Stadium, Art of War 11
Instant replay while the crowd awaits the judges' decision
Mongolia, with its wrestling tradition, produces some of China's best fighters (Dai Shuanghai at AOW 11)
Wu Haotian vs. Andreas Hesselback, AOW 11
Shanzhai pyrotechnics
Bernueng Sakhomsin (Thailand, left) fought Dai Shuanghai (China) to a draw in the main event. "Bring me back and I'll kill him," Sakhomsin said after the fight.
Tags: Beijing, Chaoyang Stadium, events, martial arts, mixed martial arts, Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium