Locals light up UFC Beijing bill

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is primed to further its presence in China by showcasing local fighters at its Beijing debut.

UFC, the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion, on Thursday announced a string of top Chinese talent, such as hometown hero Li Jingliang and women's flyweight fighter Wu Yanan, for the UFC Fight Night Beijing at west Beijing's Cadillac Arena on Nov 24.

Topping the bill is the heavyweight clash between Curtis Blaydes (10-1) of the United States and Cameroon's rising star Francis Ngannou (11-3), a highly anticipated rematch between two of the division's biggest hitters.

With the pair looking to impress UFC executives and be next in line for a title shot, their unfinished business should be a treat for fans in the 18,000-seat Olympic arena, while the impressive roll call of local fighters entices too.

Sanda specialist Li, aka "The Leech", will demonstrate his striking skills in the octagon against an unidentified welterweight rival while Wu will face off against American Shana Dobson in a flyweight showdown.

Other Chinese competitors include light heavyweight prospect Hu Yaozong, who will square off against American Rashad Coulter, and women's strawweight fighter Yan Xiaonan, who will meet Japan's Syuri Kondo.

The Beijing event is the sequel to last year's sold-out Chinese mainland debut at Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena. The previous Chinese fight nights were staged in Macau (three times).

"Our sell-out debut event in Shanghai last November has just been voted the best MMA event in Asia of 2017/18. This is a fantastic achievement and one that would not be possible without the support of our passionate fans and valued partners," said Kevin Chang, UFC vice president of Asia Pacific.

"We're already building on this success with the upcoming debut UFC event in Beijing this November. Fans can expect to experience another enthralling night of premium MMA."

Over the past few years, UFC has worked with WME|IMG China, a subsidiary of Endeavor, to identify and nurture top-tier Chinese athletes who have shown great strength, skill and determination to succeed inside the octagon.

"WME|IMG China is excited to again bring UFC, the world's premier professional MMA organization, to fans in China," said David He, vice president of Music & Live Entertainment of WME. |

Meanwhile, UFC, in conjunction with Sina Sports, is searching for this year's Octagon Girl after a nationwide search was launched on Thursday.

Last year, Wang Jingjing from Beijing and Pan Xiao from Suzhou, Jiangsu province, were selected as China's first ever Octagon Girls from over 800 hopefuls.

This year's successful candidate will earn a contract for the Beijing event along with Filipina Red Dela Cruz, who was named Ring Girl of the Year at the recent Asia MMA Awards.

Over the past few years, UFC has worked with WME|IMG China, a subsidiary of Endeavor, to identify and nurture top-tier Chinese athletes who have shown great strength, skill and determination to succeed inside the octagon.

"WME|IMG China is excited to again bring UFC, the world's premier professional MMA organization, to fans in China," said David He, vice president of Music & Live Entertainment of WME|IMG China.