Other Martial Arts in the UFC?

[dwoolman]

I'm still quite new to the UFC but after watching a few videos, live shows and reading all the fighters profiles I wanted to know why some martial arts were missing.
There were no fighters who had the discipline of Wing chun, most of them were Submission fighters or wrestlers. I might of overlooked something here but why is Wing Chun (or any other kung fu) fighters not taking part in the UFC.
Jeet Kune Do is in there and Taekwondo etc but no Wing Chun or praying mantis fighters...........why?

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

I may be ignorant, but what is a praying mantis fighter?

As far as Wing Chun, I think because alone it doesn't work well in MMA. Since a grappler won't try to box him, and most strikers will KO him; it doesn't work out well in the situation. Although like TKD, Karate and other so called "useless" MAs, I think an MMAer should study it. Why? I think the more you know, the more you're likely to beat Matt Serra with a spinning back elbow.

[Lacrymosa]

I know of four Kung Fu guys that competed in the UFC...

Jason DeLucia was a red sash in Five Animals Kung Fu who competed in UFC II He finished his first opponent with a subtle Kung Fu maneuvre called a "Triangle from the Guard". He was armbarred by Royce in the second round.

David Levicki (sp?) who I believed studied Praying Mantis Kung Fu was promptly knocked out by Orlando Weit (kickboxer) in round one of UFC II.

Felix Lee Mitchell represented Shaolin Kung Fu and fought in UFC III as an alternate. He was paired up with Ken Shamrock in the second round and put up a reasonably good fight until Shammy finished him with a naked choke. To Felix's credit, Shamrock could not (or would not after learning he wouldn't be fighting Royce) continue to the finals.

A Wing Chun expert (whose name alludes me) competed in UFC IV as an exhibition/alternate fighter. The match lasted 44 seconds where he was dragged to the ground and pummelled to oblivion from the mount.

After that confrontation, I've heard very little concerning Kung Fu fighters competing in the UFC.

[duchman]

Not realy on topic but Orlando Weit was a killer back in the day's but most people rememberd him getting ko'ed by remco pardoel

[bobby_steeles]

orlando weit has always been the fighter i would most like to see return to the ufc. i think the thrashing he gave to that kickboxer was a lot more memorable than his fight with remco "the overgrown little rascal" pardoel.
plus remco's dutch so he sucks...

[John Bennett]

Here's part of the reason:


Matt Andersen - Ninjitsu
Record: 0-1

Andy Anderson - Tae Kwon Do
Record: 0-1

Scott Baker - Wing Chun Kung Fu
Record: 0-1

Dave Berry - Kung-Fu
Record: 0-1

Melton Bowen - Boxing
Record: 0-1

John Campetella - Karate
Record: 0-1

Asbel Cancio - Wing Chun Kung Fu
Record: 0-1

Ron Van Clief - Karate
Record: 0-1

Larry Cureton - Kickboxing
Record: 0-2

Sean Daugherty - Tae Kwon Do
Record: 0-1

Fred Ettish - Kenpo Karate
Record: 0-1

Scott Fielder - Kickboxing
Record: 0-1

Zane Frazier - Kickboxing
Record: 0-2

Sam Fulton - Kickboxing.
Record: 0-1

David Hood - Jeet Kune Do
Record: 0-1

Moti Horenstein - Karate
Record: 0-1

Minoki Ichiahara - Karate
Record: 0-1

Art Jimmerson - Boxing
Record: 0-1

Kimo (Leopoldo) - Tae Kwon Do
Record: 0-2

Alberto Cierra Leon - Pencak Silat
Record: 0-1

David Levecki - Wing Chun Kung Fu
Record: 0-1

Robert Lucarelli - Kickboxing
Record: 0-1

Felix Lee Mitchell - Gung Fu
Record: 0-2

Rudyard Moncayo - Kenpo Karate
Record: 0-1

Ryan Parker - Okinawan Karate
Record: 0-1

Roland Payne - Muay Thai
Record: 0-1

Thomas Ramirez - Pakua-Chan
Record: 0-1

Julian Sanchez - Tae Kwon Do/Kickboxing
Record: 0-1

Ernie Verdicia - Kenpo Karate
Record: 0-1

Ray Wizard - Kickboxing
Record: 0-1

[bobby_steeles]

john hess-s.a.f.t.a
record: 1-0

[duchman]

weit is also dutch you fool! i moved to france from holland

[bobby_steeles]

weit is not dutch, he black...
now who's the fool?!

[Karlinhos]

hahaha...

bobby... shhhhhhhh... (quit while you're behind, lol)

[sakattacked]

Nice list J Bennet. LOL! Karate and Kung Fu guys have had plenty of opportunities to show their stuff, and their stuff doesn't work. Period.

[duchman]

gerard gordoue (sp?) was a karateka also that savate shit was bullshit. he is kyukoshin toughguy

[IronMaiden]

Savate isn't such a bullshit, and it's spelled KYOKUSHIN(KAI) not
KYUKOSHIN.

[Zhoozhitsu]

There was a Wing Chun instructor in the UFC. His name was Reza Nasri. He looked like sh*t (his skills), and he got his clock cleaned. And he was a former wrestler too.

[bustr]

The padded surface of the octagon makes it possible to be on the recieving end of a takedown and still win using Ne-Waza. Another good question would be "Why are there so few BJJ people in SanShou or other Lei Tai competitions?"