SPORTSNET.CA
Canada has a new UFC fighter to cheer for, and the UFC has another top middleweight in its stable.
Spirit MC champion and former PRIDE favourite Denis Kang has signed a four-fight deal with MMA’s largest organization. The Vancouver-based fighter, who is of Korean and French descent, had been fighting primarily overseas but was considered one of the world’s most sought after fighters.
“Everybody always asked me, ‘Denis, when are we gonna see you in the UFC? When can I see you on pay-per-view?'” Kang told UFC’s Thomas Gerbasi. “And I always said, ‘I don’t know. I’m fighting in Japan, you can catch it on YouTube…'”
Kang is coming off a win over former UFC fighter Marvin Eastman at a Raw Combat event in Calgary on Oct. 25. The win was a second straight for Kang (31-10-1) after he lost two straight for the first time in over five years.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt had opportunities to sign with the UFC as a free agent before. But one of the things the 31-year-old Kang, who has lived in Canada since he was 11, wanted was the freedom to fight in Japan, where he had developed a strong fan base. While the UFC requires exclusivity, he finally felt the pull was too strong.
“I want to fight in North America and get some exposure over here,” Kang added. “Plus, all the best fighters are moving towards the UFC, so if I want to be the best, I need to fight the best, and for that I have to be in the UFC.”
The five-foot-11 fighter, who has trained with American Top Team, could provide a legitimate challenger for current 185-pound champion Anderson Silva.
