RUFF AND MANDT BROS. ANNOUNCE FIRST FULL SEASON OF MMA IN CHINA BEGINNING WITH MARCH 24 FIGHT IN CHONGQING
In the world’s most populous nation, RUFF is the ultimate name in Mixed Martial Arts as the only professional MMA organization exclusively sanctioned by Chinese government
Shanghai (March 14, 2012) – With the bell set to ring in its first event of 2012, RUFF (Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation), in partnership with Los Angeles-based Mandt Bros. Productions and Beijing’s Wushu Administrative Center, held a press conference in Shanghai today to announce its first full season and the 2013 Super Fight, a title fight to crown China’s first MMA national champions.
The announcement, made by Joel Resnick of RUFF and Neil Mandt of Mandt Bros., came ten days ahead of RUFF 3 on March 24, and further outlined the Super Fight details. In addition to the championship belt, winners of each weight class, including the newly introduced 125 lbs. (57 kg.) Flyweight Division, will become instant millionaires in China, earning RMB 1,000,000 for claiming the title.
RUFF, the first professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization sanctioned by the government of China, recently signed a development deal with Mandt Bros. to lead all television production, beginning with the March 24 contest, to be broadcast around the Chinese mainland the following week.
In October 2010, after four years of negotiating with the Wushu Administrative Center, the governing branch of Chinese combat sports, RUFF founders Joel Resnick and Saul Rajsky secured the rights to produce and promote live professional MMA events in China. RUFF held its first two fights in late 2011, setting the stage for an exciting year of growth for the first and only MMA organization in China.
About Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation (RUFF)
Headquartered in Shanghai, Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation (RUFF) has the exclusive rights to produce and promote live MMA events as a sanctioned sport in China, by permission of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Wushu Administrative Center. Its first two MMA events were produced in late 2011 in Shanghai and Chongqing. The next event is scheduled take place on March 24 in Chongqing. For more information, please visit www.ruffchina.com.
About Mandt Bros. Productions
Brothers Neil and Michael Mandt are partners in the four-time Emmy Award-winning production company Mandt Bros. Productions, headquartered in Los Angeles. Between them, they have earned four Emmy Awards, nine Emmy nominations, among numerous other accolades. Their projects include the critically acclaimed feature film Last Stop for Paul, its TV adaptation “Next Stop for Charlie” (Showtime) and other television projects which have included “Destination Truth” (Syfy), “Jim Rome is Burning” (ESPN), “Ice Brigade” (Food Network), “Strangers in Danger” (Fuel TV) and “The Car Show” (Speed Network).