The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today bolstered its middleweight division by signing high-profile 185-pound standout Denis Kang to a four-fight contract to compete inside the Octagon.
Here’s a snip from the official announcement:
“Denis will now be able to showcase his skills to a whole new audience who hasn’t had the chance to see this exciting fighter in action. Denis has always expressed a desire to fight in the UFC and we are pleased we were able to help him get this deal done. Denis will bring a lot of excitement to the 185-pound division! Congrats Denis!”
Kang — who has enjoyed success primarily in Japan and Korea fighting in the PRIDE and Spirit MC organizations — is on a two-fight win streak after losing back-to-back matches. He most recently defeated Marvin Eastman via first round technical knockout at Raw Combat: “Redemption” last month.
The Canadian with South Korean roots was a participant in the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix 2008, losing to eventual tournament winner Gegard Mousasi via submission (triangle choke). He was an early favorite to win it all before getting upset by the slick Armenian.
Kang was also the runner-up at the PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix 2006, losing to Kazuo Misaki via split decision.
No fight date or possible opponent for Kang is known at this time. However, expect to see him make his Octagon debut sometime in early 2009.
If he can get off to a good start don’t be too surprised to see him fighting reigning division champion Anderson Silva sometime very soon … Kang has great mixed martial arts skills and would be a nice test for “The Spider.”
This is great news — the promotion had been trying to wrangle the services of Kang for more than a year. Job well done.
77 Comments »
Welcome to the UFC Denis, Congrats
doesn’t really do it for me.. lets test him out throw diego sanchez at him.
yeah! diego vs kang.. welcome kang!
he is a middle wieght
Oh Happy DAY!!!! This is a great addition to the UFC’s middleweight division. Kang is a top fighter who will make an impact in the division.
IMO, right off the bat, IF I were Joe Silva, I would book Bisping vs. Kang, winner gets Anderson. But that wont happen because Bisping is stuck with the TUF show obligations.
Excellent potential match ups for Kang are against:
THales Leites
Marquardt
But I would start him off against Kendall Grove
How about against Paulo Filho once he gets to the UFC, after Chael beats the snot outta him. I’d like to see Kang vs Franklin too.
Is it me or is the M/W UFC division looking more and more stacked as time goes by.
Not so long ago it was the laughing stock of the MMA world. Suppose that right is reserved for the H/W division now.
Can’t wait to see what Kang can do.
Has Okami got a fight lined up? Would like to see that. Good shout from John, give him Kendall for a high profile tune up.
I am so stoked that Kang is in the ufc now… Ive been wanting to see him in ufc since he was kicking ass in pride.
Nick J: u r absolutely right, the division is getting really good. TO answer your question, Okami is booked to fight Dean Lister, but I forget at wich event. Its either UFN in december, TUF Finale, or UFC 92…NOt sure which one, but he is definetly booked to fight Dean Lister
John, having Kang fight once (against Bisping) and then get a title shot at Anderson would not sit will with me. As of the last couple years, Kang has a losing record, or if not, pretty close to it. By no means should he deserve a title shot with win UFC win.
Kang has not been a Top 10 Middleweight for years now, or so it seems. Anderson Silva would simply toy with him until he chose to end the fight viciously.
VM. i agree. he should fight a ed hermann, grove or chris leben 1rst, then if he wins that he can step up and fight a bisping, j-mac or a marquardt. i would like to see him beat 2 or even 3 tough mws and WIN before we start talking a. silva. i do agree with everyone that he does make a nice, exciting addition to the ufc.
alot of the ex japanese fighters are pushed right to the top when they get in the UFC though, so dont be suprised if he gets a title shot sooner than later… rampage and a silva both had a tune up fight then fought for the title after, dan henderson had TWO title shots immediately upon entering the UFC so dont be suprised if he gets a title shot sooner than later…
Marcus Davis vs Chris Lytle at UFC 93
LEBEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS! per fight opinion.com. from the uk event.
Chuck wanted to fight Rampage to avenge his loss. This was when Chuck was trying to avenge each of his losses, Couture, Horn and Rampage.
Anderson Silva came to the MW division when there wasn’t much going on and he was on a very nice winning streak outside of the UFC.
I cant disagree with your logic, but watching Kang fight for the title would be better than Cote or Okami. Kang lost a fight or 2 recently, but not to long ago he ran off 20 consecutive wins. The guy is Legit!
Marquardt vs. Kang should be booked instantly!
YEah Denis is 500 in the last 2 years 3 wins 3 losses. He most definetly seems to be having some trouble finding that winning edge. He got two quick wins in a row now, but gatekeeper wins. I would think they want to feed him a few B Level guys, so ge can get used to the cage(most of his career has been in the ring, and gain some UFC confidence. It would be nice to see the old Denis Kang come into the UFC. That 20 someodd win streak was super impressive, with alot of them being quick wins (under 5 minutes) and a great mixture of TKO nd submissions.
I think we should get to see him debut @ GSP vs. Penn, huh? They’ll probably lump the canadians together. Another reason to look forward to Jan. 31st.
they should have a TUF for all the fighters that need a ufc contract that the xc just laid off
they should have a TUF for all the fighters that need a ufc contract that the xc just laid off
I was thinking the very same thing. Give 2 contracts per weight division. Maybe you can have the best 4 to 6 guys from each weight class, bang it out, do it best records with a championship at the end. The 2 guys in the finals get the contracts and winner gets the better contract. It could end up being really good.
And after the Sabchez fight, let’s get him in with Houston Alexander. And then maybe a shot at Miguel Torres’ belt. And then he can slide in against the winner of the 4 man HW tournament. And after that, they can sign Carano and he can fight in THAT division, too.
lmao
“Welcome”…?
Are you Dana or Lorenzo?
man i guess we all have been dana or lorenzo in many points of our lives if all it take is saying. Welcome…stop whining…you do it way too much. hating all the time over petty stuff.
You don’t find it funny that people have such an elegance to the UFC that they vicariously act like they are actually involved with the company?
I do.
does elegance = allegiance?
I’ve been a huge Denis Kang fan for years, since his early PRIDE FC days, love his fights… he’s great for the sport and a valued addition to the UFC Middleweight division.
I’d love to see Kang vs. Silva, Franklin, Henderson, Marquart or even Bisping.
Kang is no joke to anybody who doesn’t know him or seen his fights, he trains with GSP. I’ve wanted to see him in the Octagon for a very very long time.
he is a solid fighter who is fun to watch, i don’t see him beating anderson but he will be one of the better mw’s in the ufc.
This is great news.
Definitely another good acquisition to help them break into the Korean MMA scene along with KHK and hopefully Akiyama. I wonder who else they will get.
It would have been better if the UFC could have gotten him a couple years back when he still had the perception of being a top fighter.
Don’t get cought up in all the internet HYPE. Denis Kang folds against top competition. There is no way he gets past the Nate Marquardt tier of the MW division.
I hope the UFC gives him some scrub we never heard of in his first UFC fight so I can lay some money on the unknown fighter.
Awesome news..middleweight getting tougher..should get a crack at Anderson Silva
Hell yeah! I think he will do well in the cage.
Bisping should fight him
Thats a dream fight for me. Bisping is going to do the tuf show though.
besides Fihlo, he is the only fighter i see who could beat anderson Silva.Awesome addition. cant wait to see him fight!
Currently watching ” Nailin Palin”
Just downloaded it…… the resemblence is good but this chick has a huge ass.
I disagree with you. i dont think he can beat Silva
I think he can beat silva. He has a solid chin, hes proven himself in Pride, and he is korean, meaning he could sit and play world of Warcraft for like 80 hours straight!! SILVA JUST DOESN’T HAVE THAT KIND OF ENDURANCE!!
Great Addition!
Lets see if this guy finally lives up to the hype that all the pride nuthuggers have talked about him. I like the signing it just helps out a very weak division in the ufc.
does that mean you hug ufc nuts?
with your mouth?
who do you guys think kang’s first fight will be against?
I personally seeing it coming against a guy with a name among casual fans who has a decent record such as jason macdonald, ed herman, or maybe kendall grove, i dont see the ufc throwing him in with a top dog right away and having him lose in his first fight as he currently steps in as a top contender right away.
I agree with Tony….. Bisping should be his first match up.
lol
Very solid edition.
I’ll be excited to see him
I prefered last months issue.
Oh you mean addition, yeah i agree.
I like Kang but I think he’s a little overrated guys, what do you think?
He has a lot of extra hype due to the KO of Ninja, but he’s still good. Borderline top 10 middlweight, and a good addition
maybe leben, he wont get bisping i dont think. there are a few fights for him tho, greeat news!! ufc gettin stronger by the day!!
Yep its taking over the world. Once Affliction goes bankrupt thats it, Dana’s face on bank notes.
it wont be leben… he’s been suspended for 9 months after testing positive for steroids following his UFC 89 loss to Bisping
Awesome. I had a feeling this would happen after he knocked Marvin out.
He be a good adition but i cant see him getting pass marquardt or bisping. but will do well against some weaker compition. and being in the ufc he better become more well rounded if he wants to suceed.
Fantastic!!!
Chris Leben is the gatekeeper!
Dennis Kang vs Chris Leben!
great addition
Here comes some more DEPTH! WAR KANG!
Yes! I’ve been hopin’, but never thought it would happen! Excellent!
Isn’t Mousasi Greek?
Aremenian that grew up in Netherlands
WAR KANG!!!
Could Jason MacDonald or Ed Herman please report to the front gate, there is someone there to see you!
Let’s start him off with Kang vs McFedries.
Or Kampmann.
Ed Herman isnt that good imo! Leben would be good.
yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss
,
hopefully he will be on form every-time
i agree with most of y’alls. he needs a warm up fight, especially since he’s dropped two recent fights. and from who is unspoken for, i would like to see ed herman, jason lambert, kendall grove, or jorge rivera step up to the plate. i dont think he is ready for jason mcdonald or chris leben. did leben really test positive for steroids? i think kampan would be an awesome fight, but not a safe on for kang to take on his entry to the ufc.
man, I like Kang, but he just got clobbered by Akiyama and Mousasi. Does anyone still care about him?
well those guys are top of the food chain though… no shame there
Thank God and about f*cking time!! Anderson Silva will be KTFO.
Right on! thats awesome news
Kang is the man!
The Fast Lane – Episode 1Uploaded by GenghisCon
The Fast Lane – Episode 1Uploaded by GenghisCon
DEnnis is the MAN!!!
great. they need to get Mousasi too. And Jacare.. and Hansen.. and Alvarez
Yes!! Had no idea this was coming. Awesome!
Kang is good, but Akiyama knocked the shit out of him.
Yeah baby, another cat from Montreal Canada!