UFC
Expanding into Indonesia, Cultivating Local Talent
The
UFC announced that it will start expanding its reach farther into the Asian
market, this time bringing the popular fighting promotion to Indonesia.
Indonesia is a massive market, the fourth most populated nation on the planet,
with nearly 240 million people living within its borders.
According
to a press release, UFC will start by creating a Fighter Development Program in
the nation so that they can reach out to local martial artists. The expansion
is being done through a partnership with MNC Media, which is based in Jakarta.
Eventually, the two organizations will team up to bring live events to
Indonesia.
The
Fighter Development Program is slated to start in February. There will be tryouts
on March 9 and 10. The tryouts bring martial artists into a competition and the
winners go to the next phase of the program. The fighters that prove themselves
will be sent to a training camp, which is to be located in Jakarta. This
provides another way to winnow out the fighters until the top candidates are
identified. Those top contenders will be sent to the US for the rest of their
training and will work toward participating in UFC events.
Benson
Henderson, UFC Lightweight Champion, was present for the announcement. He said
that “everyone knows that martial arts were born in Asia, now it’s time to
create UFC world champions from Asia!”, according to the release.
Rudy
Tanoesoedibjo, CEO of MNC Sky Vision, said that he’s looking to create a
“strong, market-driven content offering” and that the new partnership will
expand the access that Indonesian viewers have to high quality programs.
In
addition to live events, MNC will show Countdown, The Ultimate Fighter reality
show, UFC Magazine programs and UFC Unleashed, according to the release. The
company is confident that their new programming will appeal to all Indonesian
sport fans.
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