When it comes to mixed martial arts in China, all roads lead through Andy Pi and the organization he founded, Art of War Fighting Championships (AOW). Mr. Pi is considered the Godfather of MMA in China and his promotion is the Gold Standard for Chinese Mixed Martial Artists hoping to make it in the big time. With a coveted contract on Chinese State Television and polished rock concert-like production values, AOW gives homegrown Chinese fighters a platform to compete against each other and top international fighters from around the world.
“As Chinese athletes continue to embrace MMA the sport is exploding in popularity in China,” says Pi. “As the first and most prestigious Mixed Martial Arts League in China, Art of War is the leading force in the development of Chinese fighting talent. Most of the major Chinese stars making noise in the UFC and in Asia today came through our program. When the Chinese equivalent of Georges St-Pierre, Conor McGregor or Ronda Rousey emerges and takes the sport to the next level in China you can bet that they’ll have come up through our organization.“
Art of War 18, which takes place July 30th at the Olympic sports stadium in Beijing, continues AOW’s tradition of getting bigger and better with each show.
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In the Main Event colorful Chinese Grappler Handong Kong will face South Korean Slugger Dawoon Jung. Art of War 18 will also feature the first round of a four-man tournament to crown new AOW Welterweight World Champion. In the first bracket of the Welterweight tournament UFC veteran and Jiu Jitsu specialist Junior Assuncao will fight tough Adam Townsend. In the second bracket Japanese warhorse Yuki Sasaki will face the dreaded Frenchman Tahar Hadbi.
As is its tradition, Art of War 18 also showcases the top Chinese fighters facing off against tough competitors from all over the rest of the world.
Muha Li (China) vs. Martin Akhtar (Sweden)
Xianliang Zheng (China) vs. Fuhito Hasegawa (Japan)
Lijiburen Wu (China) vs. Dong Gyu Kim (South Korea)
Jumayi Ayideng (China) vs. Yuki O’Hara (Japan)
Haoyang He (Taiwan) vs. Marc Guyon (France)
Wu Ge Te Me Ji (China) vs. Marjo Borres (Philippines)
Rige Hu (China) vs. Seng Li (China)
With unparalleled production value and rules that hearken back to the glory days of Asian MMA, Art of War continues to be the dominant driving force behind the growth of MMA in China.
