Very interesting blogs!

I always wondered, how do you decide quickly who are the people to rely on and not the ones who just know the industry players?

ZERG_RUSSIAN

10417 Posts

September 30 2010 10:12 GMT

Hey, if you need to talk with any Koreans about MMA one of my best friends' brothers was a main card on a bunch of Japanese-Korean MMA events from 2000-2008 or so. He runs his own gym in a city called Changwon where they teach MMA with a focus on kickboxing and jujitsu. Honestly I don't know his name because I call my friend "Jack" but I'll get his name if you want a contact to talk to. I know that the kickboxing league in Korea is multi-style and very popular among the martial artists, but I don't know exactly how popular MMA is among most Koreans. Many of my friends are familiar with names, but it's nothing like it is in Hawaii or the mainland US.

I'm just assuming you know way more than me about everything but if you do wanna talk with this guy for like a stable of fighters or something I'd be glad to help both of you.

besiger

Croatia2452 Posts

September 30 2010 12:18 GMT

Sounds more fun than poker promotions

san-tokie

Korea (South)185 Posts

September 30 2010 12:38 GMT

A sure way to penetrate Korea is through tv shows. Your fighters would have to double as entertainers basically, like how Choi Hong Man / Bob Sapp appeared on Korean/Japanese shows all the time. Akiyama is very popular among Korean American MMA fans, not sure what they think of him in Korea though. Is Dennis Kang fluent in Korean? If he is then you'd definitely want him, although something tells me he's not.

I don't think you'd have too much trouble, considering you have the investment all set. Really the next step would just be getting your name out there. Korea has already had exposure to MMA from K-1/Pride events and it seemed popular enough back around 2004. I remember watching many fights and the Korean commentators enthusiasm reminded me of Starcraft~

Something similar you may want to look into is Formula1 and how they are entering Korea. RedBull had an event and like 4,000 people showed up which is pretty huge considering the lack of motorsports in Korea. The Korean circuit isn't even finished and the race is in October!

Good luck to your endeavor! If you make it big hire me please keke

Ack1027

United States7873 Posts

September 30 2010 12:43 GMT

Nailed it on the head about koreans not caring about non-traditional sports unless you get a korean who places 1st.

MightyAtom

Korea (South)1897 Posts

September 30 2010 16:27 GMT

On September 30 2010 19:12 ZERG_RUSSIAN wrote:
Hey, if you need to talk with any Koreans about MMA one of my best friends' brothers was a main card on a bunch of Japanese-Korean MMA events from 2000-2008 or so. He runs his own gym in a city called Changwon where they teach MMA with a focus on kickboxing and jujitsu. Honestly I don't know his name because I call my friend "Jack" but I'll get his name if you want a contact to talk to. I know that the kickboxing league in Korea is multi-style and very popular among the martial artists, but I don't know exactly how popular MMA is among most Koreans. Many of my friends are familiar with names, but it's nothing like it is in Hawaii or the mainland US.

I'm just assuming you know way more than me about everything but if you do wanna talk with this guy for like a stable of fighters or something I'd be glad to help both of you.

Hey Zerg_Russian, yeah that would be great if you get me an introduction. I"m going to do another update cause I just finished a round of site visits, but that would be great.
You can add me on facebook and pm me there if you want to.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=100001334288882
anyone on tl is welcome to add me if they want to. ^^

MightyAtom

Korea (South)1897 Posts

September 30 2010 16:28 GMT

On September 30 2010 21:18 besiger wrote:
Sounds more fun than poker promotions

no way, poker promotions is the best, but be a bit more patience, unfortunately things are a bit of set-back, but they are still trucking along, but I will make it up to you and boys soon. ^^

MightyAtom

Korea (South)1897 Posts

September 30 2010 16:32 GMT

On September 30 2010 21:38 san-tokie wrote:
A sure way to penetrate Korea is through tv shows. Your fighters would have to double as entertainers basically, like how Choi Hong Man / Bob Sapp appeared on Korean/Japanese shows all the time. Akiyama is very popular among Korean American MMA fans, not sure what they think of him in Korea though. Is Dennis Kang fluent in Korean? If he is then you'd definitely want him, although something tells me he's not.

I don't think you'd have too much trouble, considering you have the investment all set. Really the next step would just be getting your name out there. Korea has already had exposure to MMA from K-1/Pride events and it seemed popular enough back around 2004. I remember watching many fights and the Korean commentators enthusiasm reminded me of Starcraft~

Something similar you may want to look into is Formula1 and how they are entering Korea. RedBull had an event and like 4,000 people showed up which is pretty huge considering the lack of motorsports in Korea. The Korean circuit isn't even finished and the race is in October!

Good luck to your endeavor! If you make it big hire me please keke

Akiyama is very popular in Korea as well, Dennis Kang is not, he actually hit on my ex-gf back in the day when he was very popular in korea lol. keke. But, he is a very good guy I heard, but maybe re-evaluating a lot of things now. And TV would be great, but I think its bit off into the future right now.

If I make it big, I'll hire a lot of TL people, but even I still have a ways to go. ^^ But yes, I think there is something there for MMA, but I know in formula1 Korea has been waiting YEARS for this and plus, we have so many racing girl models, this is their dream come true!

broz0rs

United States2294 Posts

September 30 2010 16:38 GMT

#10

Denis Kang is not considered a top fighter any more. I heard he likes to fight in Korea because of his heritage. His fight record is very much inflated by his wins against over-matched opponents in Spirit MC.

For many hardcore mma fans, Chan Sung Jung aka "The Korean Zombie" is really popular. Good luck with your promotion.

Waxangel

United States33069 Posts

September 30 2010 16:48 GMT

#11

Neat, I hope you do really well! I remember being in Korea in the early 2000's and enjoying watching K1 and Pride on cable, and then being horrendously disappointed when people started to begin small-time Korean promotions

. Even pseudo-fixed Japanese shit from the 90's like Pancrase was more enjoyable than that.

Btw, you mention in passing that K-1 is popular in Korea? Besides Choi Hong Man, where are you getting that impression from? I wasn't in Korea to see Choi Hong Man fight in K-1, but from what I saw in the early 2000's it seemed pretty minor compared to PrideFC (and I dunno any viewership numbers on that).

floor exercise

Canada5847 Posts

September 30 2010 17:02 GMT

#12

Akiyama and Dong Hyun Kim are definitely the most popular Korean fighters. Dong Sik Yoon and Chan Sung Jung or comedy option HMC after that I'd say.

FEG had plans to expand into Korea but I think they gave up when they realized they have no Korean stars and so it would basically be an impossible sell in Korea.

There is talk of a new Korean MMA promotion called Road Fighting Championship, dunno if that's what you are tied to.

I don't think there will ever be enough interest unless a Korean MMA fighter lights the world on fire which just doesn't seem likely to happen. Maybe Jung reaches Urijah Faber or Miguel Torres or Jose Aldo level or fame in WEC but that seems like a stretch.

MightyAtom

Korea (South)1897 Posts

September 30 2010 17:21 GMT

#13

broz0rs thanks ^^
Waxangel K1 was probably at the hight of its popularity when Choi Hong Man was recruited to fight and for about 2 years after than, but now its not the case.

Ah floor exercise: you are very knowledgable, I've confirmed much of what you have started and agree with it, but I did not know about the FEG, so thank you for that.

I've heard the talk of the new Korean MMA promotion Road as well, we are not part of that whatsoever, but I asked for contact number or website and it doesn't seem to be up.

You know BJ Penn's grand Mom or dad was Korean ^^, but I hope he isn't going to retire now....
but you've pretty much led into my next part 2....time for some serious thought.