Fighting and Entertainment Group, parent company of the K-1 kickboxing organization and DREAM mixed martial arts promotion, has announced that they have entered into a partnership with Chinese bank PUJI Capital in a deal that could be worth up to $230 million (20 billion yen).

During a press conference to announce the new partnership, which is expected to dramatically raise the operating capital for both K-1 and DREAM after recent rumors that the promoters were on the financial ropes, FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa stressed that not only does FEG have designs on strengthening their hold on Japanese combat sports, but that this is a signal that they are ready to take over the world;

“When K-1 and PRIDE were competing against each other, 80% of the martial arts market was in Japan. It is now the opposite and Japan is only 20%. We were worried that Japan would be left behind if we let this continue, it is unacceptable. We needed to change our business model.We’ve let Dana White get a lead on us. Before (Shinya) Aoki beats (Gilbert) Melendez, we must win as promoters. This is a declaration of war against the WWE and UFC. From Asia, we will take the world.”

On top of the FEG announcement, DREAM’s Executive Producer Keiichi Sasahara has hinted that the promotion is working towards something in the summer or autumn that could breathe new life into Japanese MMA. The sport of MMA in Japan is still incredibly popular but has lost most of its stature and acclaim that came during the days when PRIDE Fighting Championships ruled the MMA landscape. With DREAM promising changes and FEG looking to expand operations throughout Asia and into Aftrica and Europe, the future may be looking a whole lot brighter for Japanese MMA than it has in quite some time.

Nokaut