XIAOMI ROAD FC 044 ANNOUNCEMENT

AORIGELE VS FUJITA KAZUYUKI
FULL CARD OPEN FOR THE ROAD FC RETURN TO CHINA

ROAD Fighting Championship will once again return to China for Xiaomi ROAD FC 044 on November 11, 2017. Xiaomi ROAD FC 044 will take place at the Hebei Gymnasium in Shijiazhuang in conjunction with the city to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Shijiazhuang Daily, one of the most prestigious media institutions in China.

At Xiaomi ROAD FC 044, the quarterfinals round of the ROAD FC $1 Million Lightweight Tournament will take place, with eight fighters from six countries participating. The remaining matches on the card are now open.

Xiaomi ROAD FC 044

In the main event, fan favorite “Kungfu Panda” Aorigele (5-3-0-1, Xindu Martial Arts Club) will face returning Japanese ring legend Fujita “Ironhead” Kazuyuki (15-11, Team Fujita) in a massive Openweight bout. Aorigele is a China National Sanda champion who has KOed 4 of his opponents in ROAD FC, including Yusuke Masuda, Yusuke Kawaguchi and Bob Sapp. Fujita is a living legend who counts wins over Ken Shamrock and Yoshihiro Takayama in PRIDE, and who faced the all-time elites in Cro Cop, Fedor, and Wanderlei SIlva.

Aorigele versus Fujita Kazuyuki is the new guard of MMA facing a wizened legend. Although Aorigele is just 22, and Fujita is a ripened 47, once these giants get in the cage there will be no holding back of the punches.

Surging Chinese prospect Sha Yilan (8-1, Beijing Free Coalition Fight Club) will face ROAD FC standout Bruno Miranda (10-3, Tiger Muay Thai) in a 71kgs catchweight bout. Sha is a sanda and boxing competitor who actually has over 30 bouts to his credit. He's riding a win streak of 5 in 2017 alone, with 3 by way of KO. Miranda is a long time ROAD FC fighter who was in title contention and a $1 Million Tournament Trials winner. His aggressive style and his happy demeanor have made him a star. Sha versus Miranda is going to be striking fireworks.

China's behemoths will be showcased in an openweight match between Wu Lahan (4-0, Tianjin Jitianlong) and Wang Yichuan (debut, Qingdao Xinjiang International Fight Club). Wu has been a National Sanda champ three years running, but he counts submission finishes on his MMA record. His Ganryujima participation put him on the international scene. 20-year old Wang will be making his pro MMA debut from his sanda competition background after training specifically for MMA. Wu versus Wang puts more big men front and center for an exciting bout.

Openweight takes the spotlight again as Dacheng Wuyi champ Ma Anding (13-2, Baoligao MMA) faces TUF and WSOF veteran Jake Heun (11-6, Tiger Muay Thai). Ma won regional Mongolian wrestling accolades from 2013-14, and in his MMA fights he loves to throw kicks. Heun recently debuted in ROAD FC with a win over Choi Mu-Bae, where he showcased his nonstop Muay Thai and aggression. Stylistically, Ma versus Heun offers a wrestler who can strike, and a striker who loves to grind, and it won't disappoint.

A women's strawweight match will take place between Japanese MMA regent Fujino Emi (20-10-0-1, Fight Farm) and Brazilian staple Aline Sattelmayer (12-10, Sattelmayer Top Team). This will be Fujino's 5th fight in ROAD FC. She is one of the most exciting female fighters who's been a title challenger in WSOF and DEEP Jewels. Sattelmayer is familiar to the Chinese fans with a recent title challenge to Zhang Weili's Kunlun strap and a KO win over Meng Bo. Fujino versus Sattelmayer sees two of the greatest warhorses from Japan and Brazil meet in what will surely be an explosion.

The always exciting Wu Ze (11-11, Shenyang Rongdao Combat) returns to face Wu Xiaolong (3-7, Free Man Fight Club) at bantamweight. Wu Ze has become an icon on the China scene, yet with back to back losses, he's in dire need of turning his luck around. Wu Xiaolong is another China MMA new generation fighter who has jumped right into thick international competition, and notably claims a win over Yodkaikaew Fairtex. Wu Ze versus Wu Xiaolong will be a match for both fighters to prove themselves and their skill sets.

Former Shooto Champ Nezu Yuta (19-10-1, & MOSH) will take on Mongolian standout Baasankhuu Damlanpurev (4-1, Shiren Beelii) at bantamweight. While Nezu is dragging a string of bad luck, he's one of the most entertaining Muay Thai strikers in Japan who can't ever be taken lightly. The former Shooto champ had 8 wins in a row previously, defeating Wicky, Keita Ishibashi and Motonobu Tezuka in technically brilliant fashion. Baasankhuu is a 2-time Combat Sambo World Champion, Mongolian Sambo champion, Pan-Ams grappling champion and former MGL-1 Champion. While he hasn't been afforded many MMA opportunities, his last wins are over Alatengheili and Danaa Batgerel. Nezu versus Baasankhuu showcases two extremely talented combat veterans who will have the fans on the edge of their seats.

In the opening bout, China Trials competitor Huang Zhenyue (2-2, Guangdong Glory Fight Club) roars back to life against Japan's Iwata Keisuke (6-2, Team Samurai). Huang's base is sanda, and he's carried over the spectacular kicks into his MMA game. Iwata is a young phenom riding a 6-KO win streak which includes Nakamura Koji, a veteran who took out ROAD FC Lightweight Champion Kwon A-Sol in 2013. Huang versus Nakamura will set off the opening fireworks with their creative striking styles.

Xiaomi ROAD Fighting Championship 044

Saturday, November 11, 2017
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Part 2

5 Openweight Match

Aorigele vs Fujita Kazuyuki

4 $1 Million Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals Match

Shamil Zavurov vs Amartuvshin Khuukhenkhuu

3 $1 Million Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals Match

Baoyincang vs Shimoishi Kota

2 $1 Million Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals Match

Ronys Torres vs Tom Santos

1 $1 Million Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals Match

Mansour Barnaoui vs Nandin-Erdene

Part 1

7 -71kg Catchweight Match

Sha Yilan vs Bruno Miranda

6 Openweight

Wu Lahan vs Wang Yichuan

5 Openweight

Ma Anding vs Jake Heun

4 Women's Strawweight Match

Fujino Emi vs Aline Sattelmayer

3 Bantamweight Match

Wu Ze vs Wu Xiaolong

2 Bantamweight Match

Nezu Yuta vs Baasankhuu Damlanpurev

1 Lightweight Match

Huang Zhenyue vs Iwata Keisuke