China’s only professional MMA organization, RUFF, has signed with American sports agency Excel Sports Management to handle all sponsorship sales and marketing. The agency counts Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter among its clients.
Via press release:
RUFF, China’s first government-sanctioned MMA organization, has enlisted Excel Sports Management to lead all corporate consulting and rights representation, and now aims to reach well over 600 million Chinese consumers by summer 2012, through an increased presence on television and comprehensive print and online campaigns.
The press release also states RUFF will release a 10 episode reality series starting in the fall of 2012.
Payout Perspective:
On the heels of the SBJ article touting UFC’s expansion into markets such as China, we get news that China’s only MMA organization has hired a U.S. sports agency to help with its sponsorship sales and marketing. It’s an interesting and smart move on the part of RUFF to get an experienced sports agency to help grow the product. For Excel, it will take advantage of RUFF inroads to Chinese MMA and will get a jump on the UFC’s attempt to enter into the market.
Why now, at a time when their resources already seem to be stretched thin?
I wonder how much experience Excel Sports Management has in the Chinese markets. I could imagine its not that simple as they have very different view-points in comparison with American markets.
However, I am very excited to see the Chinese MMA market grow. America, Brazil, and now China could be the new powerhouses within the next 5-7 years.