RUFF ANNOUNCES 1 MIL RMB PRIZE MONEY, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

There is breaking news from RUFF in China, just ahead of their third event in Chongqing on March 24th.  RUFF plans to promote five to seven shows throughout the rest of 2012.   At a major event in the beginning of 2013,  seven championship titles will be on the line.  Each champion will receive 1 million RMB.  The winners will be named as "China's National Champions".

While RUFF has a roster featuring some of the best athletes in MMA right now, including recently crowned Legend FC Bantamweight Jumabieke Tuerxun, Ji Xian, Zhang LiPeng, and Wang Guan, it also has ushered in some high-level MMA fighters not of Chinese descent but currently living in China, notably Rodrigo Caporal and Irshaad Sayed.  Whether non-Chinese will be allowed to become a "China National Champion" as sanctioned by the Wushu Administrative Center remains to be declared by the promotion.

RUFF has upped its production level by signing on Mandt Brothers for the creative development of league events, live events and production thereof, and possible reality shows, all serving to raise the awareness and popularity of MMA in China.  They have become the first MMA promotion sanctioned by the Chinese government, and the issuance of nationally-recognized titles will be a testament to their efforts.

The text of the press release follows:

After successfully launching the RUFF organization and promoting China’s first professional government-sanctioned MMA events in 2011, the Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation will take Chinese MMA to landmark highs in the coming year, culminating in the 2013 Super Fight, a title fight to crown China’s first MMA national champions.

Beginning with the upcoming RUFF 3, March 24 in Chongqing, RUFF fighters will compete over the next 10 months to earn a place in the Super Fight, tentatively slated to take place prior to the 2013 Chinese New Year, with the winners of every weight class being awarded the RUFF championship belt and RMB 1,000,000 cash.

In order to showcase an even greater number of Chinese MMA fighters, RUFF, who will continue to promote MMA in China on behalf of the Wushu Administrative Center, will also introduce the Flyweight Division (57 kg), beginning at RUFF 4.

With the Super Fight, RUFF will become the first MMA organization in the world to crown a national champion, and in order to further raise the profile of Chinese MMA domestically, and abroad, RUFF has signed a development deal with Los Angeles-based, Emmy-award winning Mandt Bros. Productions to lead all television production.

For more on RUFF and the Super Fight check www.ruffchina.com.