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UFC setting up office in Singapore

Rogue Trader

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
TODAY EXCLUSIVE
UFC set for S'pore base

Asia head of mixed-martial arts body says they are in talks to set up shop here

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by Ian De Cotta
04:45 AM Nov 14, 2012

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Mark Fischer, Managing Director (Asia) of UFC, the world's largest mixed martial arts property, believes Singapore is key to the Las Vegas-based conglomerate maximising the potential of the emerging South-east Asian market. PHOTO COURTESY UFC

MACAU - Six weeks ago, he revealed that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's largest mixed-martial arts (MMA) property, plan to stage 10 events over two years in Asia, including Singapore.

They have taken their plans a step further and, in their China debut in Macau last Saturday, UFC Asia Managing Director Mark Fischer told TODAY the US$3 billion (S$3.7 billion) American giants are in talks with the authorities to set up shop in the Lion City.

It comes two years after the Las Vegas-based conglomerate installed their Asian headquarters in Beijing and they are studying if Singapore should assume this role instead.

In an exclusive interview with TODAY at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel over the weekend, Fischer underlined the importance of South-east Asia, especially the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, where UFC has a higher brand awareness. Macau, he said, was an opportunity that opened up, but there is plenty to do before the big Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai are ready for the American property within three years.

For now, South-east Asia is on their radar and having a permanent presence at the heart of this market of 600 million people has taken an urgent turn.

"We are considering an office in Singapore as we speak. As long as the terms are right, we will be there soon," said Fischer.

"Establishing an office in the region is very high on our list, but whether it is about moving our Asian headquarters to Singapore or not, it is still under some analyses.

"But the place will be a springboard towards developing the markets in South-east Asia."

UFC's annual revenues, mainly from the United States, are estimated at about US$500 million and, as Fischer told TODAY in September, Asia will be worth far more within the next decade.

The American, who has been a resident in Asia for the past 25 years and had a hand in basketball property NBA's explosive growth in the continent from 1997 to 2008, is quick to snap up opportunities.

In Macau, he announced a partnership deal with top Indonesian broadcaster Media Nusantara Citra to show UFC events on terrestrial TV and help develop MMA exponents there. He also engaged Filipino journalists for an update of MMA in the Philippines.

"I am sure we already have a great base of fans in the Philippines, Korea and Singapore, and we believe Indonesia is a huge potential market," said Fischer.

"But we also have to measure our resources, internally and externally, in staging our events, looking at the venues and what each market will bear in terms of ticket numbers."

The strategy of understanding every Asian market and their respective logistical demands will inevitably give UFC the edge in tackling the home of martial arts.

But the key, said Fischer, is building up local heroes and China has only one in UFC, Zhang Tiequan, who lost his lightweight bout to Guam's Jon Tuck on Saturday.

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China, with only one UFC fighter in Zhang Tiequan (left), who lost his bout on Saturday against Guam's Jon Tuck, needs time to develop, says Mark Fischer. PHOTO COURTESY UFC

"One thing I've learnt is that to go into the big cities in China, you want to go in very big, and the first time, especially, is to make a big bang. To do that we need more Chinese fighters. We need a little more time to develop them," he added.

But, to conquer Asia, UFC need the marketing and media tools that have turned them into the top-earning sports franchise in North America, and establishing a base in Singapore is Fischer's priority.

"It's a great hub, a great place logistically. It is also the headquarters, or the Asia and South-east Asian centre, of many multinational companies involved in marketing, and there are several broadcasters and studios there," he said.

"Singapore is the place to develop our business in the region."

 

tualingong

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Sex violence and gambling.

What else more vices do we need?

What about tabloid news papers? :biggrin:
 
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