Asian MMA: An In-Depth Preview And Complete Guide To Legend Fighting Championship 7

ONE FC isn't the only top Asian promotion hosting a card this weekend. Legend Fighting Championship will be giving the Bloody Elbow Night Crew another reason to assemble on Feb 11, and here is everything you will ever need to know about that stacked card in Macau.

Event Details:

Legend Fighting Championship 7
February 11, 2012 -- 3:30 a.m. ET
Grand Hyatt, Macau

How to watch:

Prelims will be streamed live and free on YouTube starting at 3:30 a.m. ET on Feb 11. The Main Card though will be available on PPV in North America a bit delayed to align with the timing on the US. PPV starts at 9 p.m ET for $19.99 (SD) and $29.99 (HD).

FIVE Things To Look Forward To:

1. TWO TITLE FIGHTS - This is the main reason to watch the card. There will be two excellent matches that will be for two legit championship belts on the card.

2. CHINA'S BEST WELTERWEIGHT VS. THE LEGEND FC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMP FROM KOREA - As mentioned, one of two title fights on the line is the Legend FC welterweight gold when UFC fighter Zhang Tie Quan's teammate, Li Jingliang (12-2) takes on the champ, Bae Myung Ho (12-5) of Korea.

The Korean has fought on promotions such as M-1 Global, DREAM, and DEEP, and has been undefeated since joining the Legend FC ranks, eventually winning the title last July. China Top Team's Li, on the other hand, is a Sanda and Wrestling champ from the region and has been on a tear since dropping down to welterweight. He's been touted as the best welterweight out of China, but will he be able to topple the champion known as the "Wolverine"? Both guys have been talking a lot of smack recently, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

3. YAO HONGGANG AND HIS UFC SPONSORED TRAINING CAMP VS. THE TOP CHINESE RISING STAR - This bantamweight title fight, at least in my eyes, is the real main event. It not only pits two of the very best fighters in the region, but it also has a very interesting story line.

Yao Honggang is not your average Chinese fighter with a background in Sanda. He has a background in Shuaijiao or Chinese Wrestling, and has won numerous wrestling championships in the country. He has been using his grappling chops effectively, winning the Legend FC bantamweight grand prix to claim the promotion's title. He has also benefited greatly from a recent UFC sponsored training camp. Along with Zhang Tie Quan and his China Top Team training partners, Yao was sent to train on several gyms all over Vegas to learn from the best coaches in the business. His opponent? Jumabieke Tuerxun, one of the most popular rising stars from China, and a guy who handed him a loss during his MMA debut almost three years ago.

The guy more known as "Bieke" is 10-0, and he is one of the fastest rising stars from China after tearing up the regional circuit by winning six straight bouts in 2011. He is coming from the Xian Sports University, the team where Team Quest fighters Pat Healy and Brad Hannah conducted a training camp that lasted for several weeks, teaching the top Chinese strikers the finer aspects of wrestling, BJJ, and weigh-cutting. There's a lot of hype on this guy, and he is getting an immediate shot at the title against a guy he already beat once before.

Will 'Bieke', who has unbelievable potential, couple his high level skills with the learnings he took from Team Quest's guidance to win the title? Or will a much more seasoned Yao Honggang benefit from training in Vegas, derail the hype train, and avenge a loss he suffered during his MMA debut?

Much more after the jump, but don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena.

4. MARK STRIEGL TRIES TO AVENGE HIS TEAMMATE'S LOSS FROM LAST WEEK - Mark Striegl (6-0) is one of the top prospects from the Philippines. His opponent pulled out on the last minute, and stepping in on short notice is Ev Ting (5-0), a fellow undefeated fighter who is coming off a TKO win over Striegl's good friend and training partner, Will Chope a week ago. Ting is still in peak condition after having concluded a full training camp a week ago, and hardly suffering much damage on his last bout. Striegl on the other hand is extra motivated to avenge the loss of his friend, saying that he won't get lucky this time around. It's the type of change that makes the fight more interesting than the original one, and I'm truly excited to see how this plays out.

5. THE DELARMINO BROTHERS MAKING THEIR LEGEND FC DEBUT - Along with that Striegl bout mentioned above, two more talented Filipino fighters will be on the stacked undercard of Legend FC 7, that will luckily be available for free on YouTube. Brother's Agustin Delarmino, Jr. (4-1) and Leonard Delarmino (3-1) have emerged as two very talented fighters from the URCC, and both fighters will be making their Legend FC debuts on what promises to be two very entertaning bouts.

Hidden Gems and Fun Facts:

- Legend FC Welterweight Champion Bae Myung Ho, much like his fellow countryman in Yoshihiro Akiyama, is also an underwear model.

- Liu Wenbo has competed at heavyweight for most of his career. He will be dropping down to middleweight for the first time to face Matt Cain.

Full Fight Card:

Legend Fighting Championship 7
February 11, 2012 - Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams, Macau

Main Card:
- Bae Myung Ho vs. Li Jingliang [Legend FC Welterweight Championship]
- Yao Honggang vs. Jumabieke Tuerxun [Legend FC Bantamweight Championship]
- Liu Wenbo Vs. Matt Cain
- Hideto Tatsumi vs. Yang Hae Jun
- Wang Sai vs. Gareth Ealey

Preliminary Card:
- Ji Xian vs. Leonard Delarmino
- Taiyo Nakahara vs. Michael Mortimer
- Koji Ando vs. Damien Brown
- Mark Striegl vs. Ev Ting
- Sung Ming-Yen vs. Agustin Delarmino Jr.