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Denis Kang Signs with UFC in a Four Fight Deal

Mixed Martial Arts Betting and MMA odds
Nov 3, 2008

Denis Kang Signs with UFC

“I think that I’ve got everything that it takes,” said Kang. “He’s on fire right now and he’s awesome, but I think that I can rise to the challenge and I definitely want a crack at being the champion of the UFC –- that would be a huge honor for me.”

At long last one of the best middleweights in mixed martial arts has signed a four fight deal with the UFC. Canadian middleweight Denis Kang (31-10-1) is now property of Dana White for the next four fights. One of the world’s most coveted free agents, Kang said that he has dreamt of fighting in the sport’s top organization for a long time.

When asked about signing with the UFC Kang says,

 “When I was fighting in Pride I was proud to be a Pride fighter and I loved it,” recalled Kang. “I felt like I was really part of the Pride family, but the only thing I envied the UFC fighters was that people could watch them live and go to their fights. I can tell you that if I hadn’t been fighting for Pride, the UFC would have been my other choice.”

What might have sealed his signing with the UFC was his recent brutally quick TKO victory over Marvin Eastman at RAW Combat on Oct. 25 in Calgary, Alberta. No fighter has been able to lay a beating on Eastman as fast as Kang did, as it took Rampage Jackson two rounds to take out Eastman.

Kang once went three years and 23 fights without losing and in Asia he is considered a legend due to his heroic performance at the Pride Bushido Grand prix where he continued to fight despite a ripped right biceps muscle. Even though he lost the Grand Prix he was seen as a hero because he continued to fight despite the injury. He came into his second fight versus Kazuo Misaki and fought the entire fight with one arm. He eventually lost to Kazuo Misaki by split decision. Evan though he lost he was seen as a warrior and a hero in not only Japanese MMA but Korean MMA as well. Meanwhiule Paulo Filho did not want to continue to fight because of a hand injury and was consequently booed.

Denis Kang is one of the most well rounded fighters in the world and especially at the 185 pound division nad has fought in every major organization outside the UFC like Pride and Dream. He is best known for his explosiveness and well-rounded style of fighting, utilizing both submissions and striking equally. Denis Kang was born in the French overseas colony of Saint Pierre and Miquelon to a Korean father and French mother. His family then relocated to the Canary Islands and finally North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was in Vancouver where he learned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Denis also trained in Hapkido with the Wolfe brothers, but it wasn't until 1997 when his future coach and mentor, Marcus Soares who arrived to Vancouver to open his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school. Denis is one of Marcus's original students and remains under Marcus's tutelage and is present at all his ring fights.

He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Marcus Soares www.marcussoares.com  who is 7th degree black belt under Carlson Gracie. Denis is also one of the most technically sound boxers who started off training with former world champion Tony Pep www.tonypep.com. Kang now trains with American Top Team when he is in the US and when he is back home in Vancouver Canada he works out with Revolution MMA with which such fighters like Bill Mahood and BJJ world champion Bibiano Fernandez.

In preparation for his Dream fights Denis has been training in Montreal with George St Pierre. In fact, Kang will be leaving for Montreal on Wednesday to continue training with St. Pierre and strength and conditioning coach Jonathan Chaimberg. Other than a brief Christmas visit to Vancouver, he’ll remain in Montreal until UFC 94.

Denis Kang doing his last conditioning session with coach Jon Chaimberg before his fight on August 31 08

Kang said that he has told the UFC he will be ready for inclusion on one of their fight cards in January, and if he had his druthers he’d love to be on the UFC 94 Super Bowl weekend roster on Jan. 31 alongside friend and training partner Georges St. Pierre, who will be taking on B.J. Penn.

Kang will enter the UFC as a possible challenger to pound for pound best MMA fighter in the world Anderson Silva due to the weak talent in the UFC 185 pound class. Kang is very well rounded and can strike and grappler with the best people in the world and he will be gunning for Anderson Silva.

Kang will most likely make his debut in the UFC at UFC 94 and is currently the Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship. He has beaten some of the best fighters in the world like Akihiro Gono, Amar Suloev, Murilo Rua, Mark Weir, Andrei Semenov and has fought Gegard Mousasi, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Kazuo Misaki and Jason Miller.