The UFC Returns to Macao, China for UFC Fight Night Macao: Bisping vs Le
Cementing a commitment to the burgeoning MMA scene in Asia and with Sands China Ltd., The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Cotai Arena in Macao for a second time in 2014, and third overall, on Saturday, August 23 with UFC Fight Night Macao: Bisping vs. Le.
Headlined by Vietnamese born Cung Le (9-2, fighting out of San Jose, California), the former Strikeforce middleweight champion and legend of combat sports returns to the Octagon for the first time since a dominant knockout of Rich Franklin in the same arena in 2012. After a successful stint coaching and teaching on The Ultimate Fighter China, Le looks to use his impressive arsenal of wrestling, Tae-Kwon-Do, Kung Fu and Sanshou in laying claim to the title of most entertaining fighter of his generation.
Standing in the way will be formidable UFC veteran and The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 champion Michael “The Count” Bisping (25-6, fighting out of Orange County, California by way of Manchester, England). A polarizing figure to fans, no one can dispute Bisping’s skills as he’s racked up three Fight of the Night bonuses and eight TKO victories in his long UFC career. With notable wins over Alan Belcher, Brian Stann and Chris Leben, the one thing that has eluded Bisping has been the UFC belt and a win over Cung Le would show the middleweight division that Bisping is ready to make one more title run.
“We’re excited to announce our return to Macao and the Cotai Arena, a venue that has seen incredible UFC performances over the last two years,” said Mark Fischer, UFC Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Asia. “Sands China Ltd. has proven to be an exceptional partner and visionary in helping us grow the sport of MMA and the UFC brand in South East Asia.”
In addition to the Bisping-Le showdown, two surging welterweights will meet in Macao when the division’s ninth-ranked competitor and Korean born Dong Hyun Kim (19-2-1, 1NC, fighting out of Busan, South Korea) meets the explosive seventh-ranked Hector Lombard (34-4-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.), who has taken the 170lb. class by storm. Kim, who most recently overwhelmed John Hathaway by KO at the Cotai Arena in March, will look to build on his resume as one of the most accomplished Asian fighters in the UFC with a win over former Judo world champion Lombard.
