Three stellar acquisitions have been made by the UFC and they’ve been handed their promotional debuts early next month.
The signing include Alberto Mina (11-0), a Brazilian fighter based in Hong Kong, Jumabieke Tuerxun, one of China’s biggest MMA products today and Mark Eddiva (5-0), the second Team Lakay fighter in three months to link up with the UFC.
Alberto Mina, Jumabieke Tuerxun and Mark Eddiva added to TUF: China Finale
UFC officials announced the signings and the match-ups they were involved in this past week.
TUF: China Finale takes place March 1st, at The Venetian Macau’s Cotai Arena. The entire fight card streams on the UFC Fight Pass. The event features a riveting headliner between prospects John Hathaway (17-1) and Dong Hyun Kim (18-2-1, 1 NC), along with the conclusion of the TUF: China 145-lbs and 170-lbs tournaments.
Mina (pictured), a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, has a perfect 11-0 record with all fights ending via stoppage. Despite his large pedigree in the grappling department, make no mistake about the 31-year-old’s ability in holding his own with his striking skills. He was last seen at Rebel Fighting Championship’s inaugural event in Singapore, where he picked up a devastating first round TKO victory over Glenn Sparv. Mina plies his trade at Epic MMA in Hong Kong, alongside ONE FC contender Vuyisile Colossa among others.
He’ll lock horns with Zak Cummings (16-3), an alumnus on Season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter. The 29-year-old Texan made slick work of Ben Alloway in his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 27, submitting the Australian via D’Arce choke en route to a “Submission of the Night” bonus.
Tuerxun, 27, makes his long awaited UFC debut. The Chinese Bantamweight first made a name for himself in his stints with RUFF and Legend FC. Although record keepers like Sherdog have him at 14-0, Tuerxun has, in fact, made over thirty pro MMA appearances – and he’s reigned victorious in every one of them. The 27-year-old will be having a full camp at Phuket Top Team, training with the likes of Rob Lisita and the Leone brothers in preparation for his promotional debut.
He’ll be facing Mark Eddiva, one of many prospects hailing from the Philippines’ premier fight camp, Team Lakay. Eddiva has clocked five victories in his five pro MMA bouts, but has been on a hiatus since January, 2011. The Filipino fighter trains with Asian MMA staples Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario and Rey Docyogen among others on a daily basis, and will be looking to use that experience to full effect on March 1st.
UFC officials also announced the addition of a Welterweight contest, between beaten “TUF: China” semifinalists Albert Cheng (2-2) and Anying Wang (1-0).
The latest TUF: China Finale line-up now includes:
- – John Hathaway vs. Dong Hyun Kim
- – Zhang Lipeng vs. Wang Sai (TUF: China Welterweight Tournament Final match-up)
- – Yang Jianping vs. Ning Guangyou (TUF: China Featherweight Tournament Final match-up)
- – Shawn Jordan vs. Matt Mitrione
- – Hatsu Hioki vs. Ivan Menjivar
- – Vaughan Lee vs. Nam Phan
- – Nam Yui Chul vs. Kazuki Tokudome
- – Zak Cummings vs. Alberto Mina
- – Albert Cheng vs. Anying Wang
- – Mark Eddiva vs. Jumabieke Tuerxun
*Photos credit: Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation, Sigmund Seah
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