ROAD FC announces 5 International Trials for seeding in the $1 Million Lightweight Tournament.

(Updated 18 November)

The ROAD FC $1 Million Lightweight Tournament will be a 32-man winner-takes-all tournament for Asian and international fighters commencing in 2017. Due to overwhelming interest from international fighters, ROAD Fighting Championship is excited to announce a series of five International Trials to provide more opportunities for international fighters to be seeded in the Tournament. The five Trials will be held from late 2016 through the first quarter of 2017.

ROAD FC is honored to be known and respected by athletes from all over the world who wish to compete. To all of the fighters, agents, and fans who have made enquiries, ROAD FC humbly thanks you. 

China Trials

The first of the International Trials has been announced as the China Trials, which is taking place this coming Saturday, 19 November on Xiaomi ROAD FC 034 in Shijiazhuang. Six fighters from China and two who have competed extensively in China were selected for this 8-man tournament. The winners of the four matches will be seeded in the Tournament. The field includes Yao Honggang's protege Tao Shuoyu, KO artist Nuertiebieke Bahetihan, Sanda standout Yu Changzhao, warhorse Habiti, RUFF Champion Rodrigo Caporal, up and comers Huang Zhenyue and Shang Lianru, and hard-hitting judoka Amartuvshin Khuukhenkhuu.

Japan Trials

The second International Trials are the Japan Trials which will be held in the esteemed promotion DEEP. DEEP has been dedicated in showcasing many Korean fighters for a decade. The Japan Trials in DEEP will be a four man, one night tournament in which the winner earns the right to be seeded in the $1 Million Tournament. Aside from the Trials, well-known fighters and champions in Japan have already been invited to participate in the Tournament.

Eastern Europe Trials

The third of the International Trials will be held in Russia's MFP, which operates under an all-Russia MMA federation. ROAD FC and MFP have enjoyed a mutually beneficial cross-through flow of fighters. In these Trials, two MFP fighters and two from other regions will participate in this four man, one night tournament with the winner being seeded for the $1 Million.

Southeast Asia Trials

The fourth International Trials are the Southeast Asia Trials which will be held in one of Asia's longest-running MMA promotions, URCC. The Philippines have a long-standing culture of being fierce martial artists, and URCC has been at the forefront of MMA.  The SEA Trials will see two Filipino fighters and two others from Southeast Asian countries face off in a four man, one night tournament.

Korea, North and South America, and Europe Trials

The final International Trials will take place across two events in Korea. While ROAD FC is already in negotiations with top fighters from all over the world, the interest has been so overwhelming that these Trials have been set to include proponents from some of the most active MMA countries in the world. There are expected to be sixteen fighters from Korea, North and South America, and Europe who will compete in the first event. The eight winners will move onto the second Trials event, and the final four match winners will be seeded in the ROAD FC $1 Million Lightweight Tournament.

ROAD FC Expands into the Global Future

In this decade, South Korea has become a powerhouse of MMA talents. ROAD FC has been proud to provide an amateur to professional platform for Korean athletes to grow and excel. With the announcement of the ROAD FC Champions' six-figure salary in 2015, and the $1 Million Tournament in 2017, ROAD FC is now providing top Korean and international athletes with the respect they deserve.

ROAD FC has experienced dominance in the Korean broadcast market for five years. In 2015, ROAD FC secured a broadcast deal with China's largest broadcaster CCTV, and made history with the station's first live MMA broadcast, then with successive top five ratings reaching an audience of 40 million. The ROAD FC broadcast footprint grows across Asia and the world with more soon to be announced as all eyes start shifting to ROAD FC.

New Wave MMA ROAD FC is the stage where legends shine, rookies thrill, and epic battles are waged that determine the future of MMA. From the pageantry of the grand entrance to the final crunch of the KO, ROAD FC showcases the very best of Mixed Martial Arts sports and entertainment. As we say in Korea, "Fighting!"