Chinese billionaire backs MMA’s push
Photo: Dita Alangkara/AP/TT

Chinese billionaire backs MMA’s push for Olympic recognition

Could a cleaned-up version of the brutal martial arts sport MMA become an Olympic sport? That is what one Chinese billionaire, among others, hopes - and now a variant of the sport is being tested at the Asian Games.

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"We have developed a regulatory framework that is specifically focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of athletes, and that is in line with Olympic values," says Gordon Tang, a Chinese real estate magnate and chairman of a lobbying organization for the sport.

The goal is the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, and Tang sees the ongoing Asian Games in Japan as an important step along the way.

The MMA practiced there is not much like the usual variant and lacks the familiar cage around the octagon where the fights take place. In addition, there is a ban on using elbows, knees and kicks to the head when the opponent is down.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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