UFC to China: Why This Move Makes Sense

The UFC is set to make its long-awaited debut in China later this year, with a UFC on Fuel TV event taking place in Macau.

With many calling for Cung Le—an ambassador of Southeast Asian MMA—to main event the landmark card, there is still discussion on whether the move to China makes sense.

In one corner, many people will say China is not ready for the UFC. Not only is MMA years behind there, but this is an experiment that can go wrong. The only Chinese MMA fighter from China is Tiequan Zhang, who is considered in the lower tier of the division.

But, if you ask me, this move to China makes an incredible amount of sense.

First off, there is no way that this event can go wrong. No matter the size of the venue or the advertising of the event, there are over two billion people in China to fill the venue. The interest and opportunity that the UFC brings to a country rich in martial arts history cannot flop.

Also, this event will open up the floodgates for Chinese participation in the sport. Remember what UFC 1 did for Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the United States? Imagine that with the sport already advanced as far as it is and with millions of people ready to learn.

A few years from now, China could be the next hotbed for mixed martial artists. More recently it has been Canada, the United Kingdom and Russia, but their populations don't match China. The sky is the limit.

Just look at the Olympic games. China makes sure that its athletes start training at a young age to become the best in the world. Should MMA take off, China could be in store for future legends and world champions in the UFC.

If this market is a success, it will make the UFC a truckload of money. This will lead to the expansion of the product, merchandise-sale increases and television deals for a possible Ultimate Fighter series. This would only be good for the sport.