Denis Kang Signs With the UFC
by dropkick101 on Nov 3, 2008 12:00 PM EST
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Fronted by Luke Thomas.
Former PRIDE fighter and current SpiritMC champion Denis Kang has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC, American Top Team General Manager Richie Guerriero today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Kang, 31, will likely make his octagon debut in early 2009.
Kang has had previous negotiations with the UFC that fell through due to his desire to continue fighting for the South-Korean organization SpiritMC. While Kang has lost 3 out of his past 6 fights, all of those losses came at the hands of top 10 ranked fighters. Kang went 23 fights without a loss before that.
This addition to the UFC middleweight division will no doubt help to silence many a critic of the UFC's supposed "lack of depth" at the 185-pound level. Kang is a very dangerous fighter capable of finishing opponents anywhere a fight might end up.
A big win under the UFC banner would immediately place him in title contention. Top ranked fighters like Nathan Marquardt and Thales Leites are currently not signed to fight within the next few months. Either man would be a solid choice for Kang's octagon debut. Other upcoming fights like Nate Quarry vs. Demian Maia and Dean Lister vs. Yushin Okami could produce a suitable opponent for Kang as well.
If anything, we can all agree that the 185-pound division just got a little more interesting.
[UPDATE] by Luke Thomas: I would also add this bolsters their roster in terms of setting up for international expansion into South Korea. Good signing by the UFC.
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Another great signing by Dana White
I like him getting the loser of Okami-Lister as a warmup. Then, I’d love to see him leave little pieces of Bisping all over the ring. Barring that, probably Jason MacDonald.
by Derek Suboticki on Nov 3, 2008 12:06 PM EST reply actions
Eh I don’t like him getting the loser anywhere. This guy has potential title challenger written all over him and a victory over a guy coming off of a loss will do little to help that. Plus, the off chance of a loss will derail any and all title plans. The only fighter coming off of a loss I would put Kang against at this point is Ricardo Almeida, based solely off of his impressive resume.
WOW
Despite his recent struggles, this is quite a signing. He has major credibility in a market that the UFC is trying to climb into (South Korea) and he is back on the winning track of late. Very excited for this..
I can see they want to go to South Korea, but Kang’s not all that great IMO. He’s really more of a glorified gatekeeper. Whether he can beat Silva or not is really irrelevant, because he’s not going to be able to beat the guys on the way to reach Silva, unless he can somehow receive a title shot via beating guys like Kendall Grove and Ed Herman.
Hmm...
He’s probably better than everyone in the division short of Franklin and Silva. He should at least get a chance.
by KneeToTheFace on Nov 3, 2008 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I mean
Okay, I can give you those two considering they’ve both improved tremendously (at least, Marquardt has) since their losses to Silva. As “ilostmydog” says below me, he’s about even with the rest of the “contenders.” However, I’d throw Leites and Okami in the “about even” category as well. I don’t think he’d beat any of the guys on that list decisively but he definitely has it in him.
by KneeToTheFace on Nov 3, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
People need to temper their expectations
Nobody is as good as Anderson Silva. Let’s get that out of the way..
But that doesn’t take away from the UFC’s depth in the 185 division. Kang is a high level fighter. He had won 23 straight fights before going on his abbreviated losing streak. And you’ll notice that guys like him, that take on only high level competition, are going to suffer their losses. Even if he’s on an even level with guys like Nate the Great, Almeida, Hendo, Okami, Franklin (who I consider a flex), Maia, Reljic (don’t forget him, he was supposed to fight Leites at 185), Filho (or him), Leites and Palhares— and just above guys like Cote, Bisping, Kampman (who’s probably moving down), Leben and McDonald— I mean… Come on. That’s a stacked 185 division, dudes.
We really need to place Anderson Silva in his own little bubble alongside the 185 standings, because he’s in a world all his own. People clamor that guys like Jacare need to get signed to bolster the middleweight division, but when it happens, everyone would shrug at it and say Anderson will take him out in round one. Yes. Anderson would take out most anyone at will. That deserves more consideration when discussing matters such as this..
Kang may not suddenly be the best 185er in the UFC, or even in the top three (until he proves it with a few high profile victories). But that doesn’t speak to his lack of ability— it speaks to the suddenly surprising depth of division.
Amen, brother
The MW division ain’t shallow.
Additionally..
..the UFC has some real blue chippers at 185. Rosholt is coming into Wednesday’s WEC with a head of steam and a wealth of expectations. He could be big time in a short period of time. Lastly, with EXC taking a nose dive, there might be some carry over to provide even more depth (Scott Smith, Villasenor?). Lawler seems at least tentatively interested in returning to the Octagon. It’s my personal assessment that if he doesn’t do so, it’s due in large part to the startling depth. His own manager made mention that he couldn’t provide star power to the UFC because it already exists. Translation: he may not want to fight constant high level competition.
I think that’s severely overvaluing him. In addition to Franklin and Silva, I would take Marquardt, Leites, Hendo, and Okami over him any day of the week. I think he’s about even with guys like Jason MacDonald, Demian Maia, Rousimar Palhares, and Martin Kampmann. I don’t think he’s going to take this division by storm or any silliness like that.
I'd be willing to bet
He absolutely mops the floor with Franklin. Marquardt is a worse style matchup for him as is Leites and Hendo. Okami I think he would end up in a mirror image of the Misaki fight with it going to decision. He crushes MacDonald by keeping it on the feet, and if Maia doesn’t get him down he loses also. Palhares is a bad style matchup for him and I think the Kampmann fight would be awesome – If Kampmann weren’t really a 170lber in wolfs clothing.
I’m all for adding more depth to the 185 division. Are people really complaining about adding more top tier fighters?
He was impressive vs Eastman and I’m all for the UFC adding more depth to what I consider their weakest division now.
Kang can also pull from two fanbases, Korea and Canada, he has a very large following in Canada as well.
Agree about the depth
Totally disagree about it being the weakest division— or at least weak enough that that distinction can be made (Lightweight and Heavyweight certainly come before it, if you ask me— but they’re all much stronger than this time last year and I don’t consider any of them weak).
I don’t see a weak division in the UFC. LHW obviously has the most star power and literally all the top talent in the world at that weight but there simply is no weak division. HW was once considered the worst in the company but with a few recent fights and signings, the UFC holds at least half of the top 10 in the world and the rest of the contenders and legit prospects make it very interesting. WW and LW have been considered deep divisions for a while now and the same can be said for the MW division.
For sure. That’s why I don’t even like making the argument about the “weakest”. Perhaps it would be more appropiately called “least awesome”. I have contended recently that we’re either in or are approaching the golden age of MMA. The only reason I am hesitant with that opinion is the hope that it continues to improve. But right now, if you observe the UFC’s roster laterally, it is the greatest fighter roster in MMA history.
His recent leveling of Eastman was badass, and any depth the UFC can add to the MW is needed, even if they inflate the stock value (Bisping, cough cough). I’m not a big Kang fan, but this is a needed addition. If I’m remembering right, he’s also well-spoken and level-headed, both positive traits if he’s spearheading more expansions.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Nov 3, 2008 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
Right now
That would be huge. Other than Silva, Mousasi may be the hottest commodity at 185 in the world (right now, at least).
I know he, like, JUST beat him
But I’d still rather see Jacare in the UFC. Jacare v Maia = greatest BJJ display ever in an Octagon.
by Derek Suboticki on Nov 3, 2008 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
Jacare would get blasted in the MW division as soon as he faced a high level striker with good takedown defense.
by lbk on Nov 3, 2008 5:42 PM EST up reply actions
You mean like Mousasi?
He got him to the ground then got killed with an upkick. Jacare is a quality wrestler not just a JJ takedown guy.
The UFC wouldn’t allow him to do his awesome entrance… Or drunk hicks would boo it. I’m sure Akiyama wouldn’t care cause he’s used to that but I would be shamed by my home country – I hope I don’t have to see the day. Maybe Huerta can go over to DREAM and fight him… We’ll have the battle of the greasers! (according to Kenny Florian’s beliefs)
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