Harrie Nak
20-07-2010, 11:44
The parent company of DREAM and K-1, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) held a press conference (http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/headlines/20100716-00000021-spnavi-fight.html) on Friday to announce a new partnership with a Chinese investment group called PUJI Capital, a deal that could be worth over 200 million dollars.
During the press conference, K-1 president Sadaharu Tanikawa declared war against the UFC and pro wrestling promotion WWE. "This is a declaration of war against WWE and UFC. From Asia, we will take over the world," stated Tanikawa.
Later during the same press conference, Tanikawa claimed that it's basically an impossible task to try and compete in the U.S. "We won't stand a chance in the American market, so we will spread to the rest of the world," said the K-1 president.
So what exactly is the war being fought over? Tanikawa claims they are going to fight to make the Japanese MMA market more relevant in the international MMA picture. "When K-1 and PRIDE were competing against each other, 80 percent of the martial arts market was in Japan. It is now the opposite and Japan is only 20 percent. We were worried that Japan would be left behind if we let this continue, it is unacceptable. We needed to change our business model."
During the press conference, K-1 president Sadaharu Tanikawa declared war against the UFC and pro wrestling promotion WWE. "This is a declaration of war against WWE and UFC. From Asia, we will take over the world," stated Tanikawa.
Later during the same press conference, Tanikawa claimed that it's basically an impossible task to try and compete in the U.S. "We won't stand a chance in the American market, so we will spread to the rest of the world," said the K-1 president.
So what exactly is the war being fought over? Tanikawa claims they are going to fight to make the Japanese MMA market more relevant in the international MMA picture. "When K-1 and PRIDE were competing against each other, 80 percent of the martial arts market was in Japan. It is now the opposite and Japan is only 20 percent. We were worried that Japan would be left behind if we let this continue, it is unacceptable. We needed to change our business model."