Sunday, March 17, 2013
No Holds Barred: Bill Eng on MMA in China
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Bill Eng.
Born in New York but living in China for many years, Bill Eng works with many different types of people and organizations in the MMA community in China.
"I help a lot promotions organize their fights in terms of experience and setting it up," he said in this interview, which was recorded Friday in New York's Chinatown. He also works with national coaches, describing himself as "not a businessman making a living off the fighters." He added that there are a "pretty broad range of things I do for organizations," including working with government licensing bodies.
China has the world's second-largest economy, and MMA has been growing there for the past decade. We discussed MMA organizations which are already in China, such as RUFF, and what those that are interested in running events there, including ONE FC and UFC, need to do to be successful there. Bill emphasized the need for those companies which are based outside of China to have or develop "top fighters" who are Chinese.
We also discussed some of the history of martial arts in China since the victory of the revolution in 1949, how the attitude of the Chinese government has changed over the years both to traditional martial arts and MMA, the difference between running MMA shows in Macao and in mainland China, the growth of grappling in China and the coming of the 2013 ADCC World Championships to Beijing, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
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Born in New York but living in China for many years, Bill Eng works with many different types of people and organizations in the MMA community in China.
"I help a lot promotions organize their fights in terms of experience and setting it up," he said in this interview, which was recorded Friday in New York's Chinatown. He also works with national coaches, describing himself as "not a businessman making a living off the fighters." He added that there are a "pretty broad range of things I do for organizations," including working with government licensing bodies.
China has the world's second-largest economy, and MMA has been growing there for the past decade. We discussed MMA organizations which are already in China, such as RUFF, and what those that are interested in running events there, including ONE FC and UFC, need to do to be successful there. Bill emphasized the need for those companies which are based outside of China to have or develop "top fighters" who are Chinese.
We also discussed some of the history of martial arts in China since the victory of the revolution in 1949, how the attitude of the Chinese government has changed over the years both to traditional martial arts and MMA, the difference between running MMA shows in Macao and in mainland China, the growth of grappling in China and the coming of the 2013 ADCC World Championships to Beijing, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Art of War, Asia, Bill Eng, China, Eddie Goldman, Legend, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, RUFF, UFC
Sunday, January 29, 2012
No Holds Barred: Mike Haskamp of Legend Fighting Championship

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Mike Haskamp, the co-founder of the Hong Kong-based MMA promotion, the Legend Fighting Championship.
Legend FC will be having their seventh show Saturday, February 11, at the City of Dreams in Macau SAR, China. Headlining the ten-fight card will be two title fights. Legend welterweight champion Bae Myung Ho of South Korea will be fighting challenger Li Jingliang from China and China Top Team. In the co-main event, Yao Honggang, also of China Top Team, will defend his Legend bantamweight title against fellow Chinese fighter Jumabieke Tuerxun, who holds a victory over Yao.
We spoke by Skype with Mike Haskamp Monday morning (which was Sunday night in the U.S.) about this card and the growth of Legend FC. He elaborated on the origins of Legend FC as well as the fascinating beginnings and development of MMA in China. He discussed their television deals, which will have Legend 7 seen in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as on pay-per-view in North America. Legend has also just signed a distribution and syndication deal with ESPN International, with more details coming soon.
We also discussed how Legend carries out self-regulation of events, the fighter safety measures taken, the rules and use of a five-roped ring, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
DARE Championship. Based in Thailand, DARE is a mixed martial arts event where fighters from all over the world compete to become the DARE Champion. DARE is one of the first MMA promotions in Thailand, and has been televised in many countries and online. For more information, go to their web site, at DareFightSports.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
Labels: China, Eddie Goldman, Hong Kong, Legend, Macau, Mike Haskamp, MMA, No Holds Barred
Sunday, January 22, 2012
No Holds Barred: Lee Li On Big Lunar New Year For MMA In Asia

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the journalist, writer, and our Hong King-based Asian correspondent, Lee Li, who publishes the web site MMA in Asia.
After the festivities are over for the traditional Lunar New Year, which begins January 23, there will be an explosion of mixed martial arts events throughout Asia. ONE FC has an event on Saturday, February 11, in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Legend FC has an event the same day in Macau. The following week there are two cards in the Philippines. There are numerous other events scheduled all over Asia.
We spoke by Skype with Lee Li on Sunday about this upcoming series of events. She began by discussing the Dream card from December 31 in Japan, and went on to examine the many events and fighters in these upcoming shows, including ONE FC, Legend FC, ROAD FC, URCC, PXC, RUFF, and many more. We discussed the importance of establishing effective and professional governance of MMA in the many countries of Asia, the issues related to regulation and self-regulation of these promotions, the announcement of the formation of the Super Fight League in India, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
Labels: Asia, China, Eddie Goldman, Indonesia, Lee Li, Legend, Macau, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines
Friday, October 28, 2011
No Holds Barred: Lee Li on MMA in Asia, Legend FC 6, and ONE FC Partnerships

On this audio edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the journalist, writer, and our newest correspondent, Lee Li. Based in Hong Kong, she publishes the blog called MMA in Asia.
In a lengthy and in-depth interview recorded on Friday via Skype, we discussed the recent phenomenal growth of mixed martial arts in Asia outside of Japan.
We previewed the Legend Fighting Championship 6 card, which takes place Sunday, October 30, in Macau, and is headlned by Legend lightweight champion Adrian Pang making the first defense of his belt against Sengoku veteran Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia. This card, which Lee Li will be covering, will be telecast in several countries.
This past week, the ONE Fighting Championship, based in Singapore, announced "mutually exclusive partnerships" with numerous MMA promotions and gyms throughout Asia. We discussed the enormous significance of this development and how, over time, it may possibly change the balance of power in world MMA.
We also discussed many other promotions in Asia, including URCC, Art of War, RUFF, PXC, Road FC, and many others. All these new organizations are already producing new heroes from amongst their fighters, and we mentioned some of the fighters who, both in the present and future, are emerging as the best in Asia and, potentially, the world.
In addition, we discussed the pressing issues of ethics, governance, sanctioning, regulation, and fighter safety facing these new organizations. The regulatory and legal situations vary from country to country, but the need for good, ethical governance does not. We also discussed the recent growth of interest in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Asia, how that affects MMA, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City, featuring the Renzo Gracie Gi Open 2011 tournament, a signing of his new book by MMA legend Randy Couture, grappling and muay Thai action, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The third annual MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
In a lengthy and in-depth interview recorded on Friday via Skype, we discussed the recent phenomenal growth of mixed martial arts in Asia outside of Japan.
We previewed the Legend Fighting Championship 6 card, which takes place Sunday, October 30, in Macau, and is headlned by Legend lightweight champion Adrian Pang making the first defense of his belt against Sengoku veteran Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia. This card, which Lee Li will be covering, will be telecast in several countries.
This past week, the ONE Fighting Championship, based in Singapore, announced "mutually exclusive partnerships" with numerous MMA promotions and gyms throughout Asia. We discussed the enormous significance of this development and how, over time, it may possibly change the balance of power in world MMA.
We also discussed many other promotions in Asia, including URCC, Art of War, RUFF, PXC, Road FC, and many others. All these new organizations are already producing new heroes from amongst their fighters, and we mentioned some of the fighters who, both in the present and future, are emerging as the best in Asia and, potentially, the world.
In addition, we discussed the pressing issues of ethics, governance, sanctioning, regulation, and fighter safety facing these new organizations. The regulatory and legal situations vary from country to country, but the need for good, ethical governance does not. We also discussed the recent growth of interest in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Asia, how that affects MMA, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City, featuring the Renzo Gracie Gi Open 2011 tournament, a signing of his new book by MMA legend Randy Couture, grappling and muay Thai action, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The third annual MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
Labels: Asia, Eddie Goldman, Lee Li, Legend, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC
