By Thinesh John
The Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation (RUFF) will return to Hohhot, Inner Mongolia onSaturday, September 8th for RUFF 5, the third event in RUFF’s year-long Super Fightseries.
Set for Inner Mongolia Indoor Stadium, RUFF 5 will be headlined by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Rodrigo Caporal and top prospect Wu HaoTian, who will go head-to-head in an anticipated lightweight battle.
Currently 2-0 under the RUFF banner, Caporal will bring his world-class grappling skills and an arsenal of submissions and takedowns into the cage against Wu, who will be making his RUFF debut. A veteran wrestler and Sanda practitioner, Wu is currently the top-ranked 70 kg fighter in China, and is looking to become China’s firstMMA National Champion.
In the co-main event, undefeated bantamweight Jumabieke Tuerxun will square off against RUFF newcomer Jiang LongYun. Considered China’s top fighter at 61 kg, Tuerxun has never lost an MMA fight, employing a solid repertoire of boxing, wrestling and ground and pound. Jiang is a product of the national boxing system, but has developed a well-rounded MMA skill set, well versed in Jiu Jitsu and wrestling.
Rounding out the main card, top flyweight contenders Liu PingYuan and Zhang MeiXuan will throw down in a re-match of the “Fight of the Night” from RUFF: Genesis. Riding a two-fight win streak, Liu has solidified his place at the top of the 57 kg weight class, finishing his last two opponents by armbar. Zhang will be making his long-awaited return to the RUFF cage, after defeating Liu in RUFF’s debut event.
RUFF is China’s first ever government-sanctioned professional MMA and fighting organization. Having partnered with the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China since 2010, RUFF has promoted successful MMA events in Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.
In 2013, RUFF, along with Los Angeles-based Mandt Bros. Productions, will present the RMB 1,000,000 Super Fight, a title event to crown China’s first MMA national champions in the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, and light heavyweight divisions.
Key sponsors Nike and Ducati are once again on board for RUFF 5, as isC.O.M.M.A.N.D.-certified Canadian referee Jerin Valel, who will oversee the event and the implementation of the unified rules, ensuring RUFF 5 will not only feature world-class competition, but also the highest level of officiating, fighter safety and integrity.
More on RUFF 5, including updated fight matchups and television broadcast information, to come.
