Rebel takes on MMA giants

ANY sportsperson will tell you never to underestimate the underdog. So even though Rebel Fighting Championship (Rebel FC), a one-year-old homegrown MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) promotion, might be the new kid on the block, it's gamely stepped into the ring for a three-way bout with giants Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and One Fighting Championship (One FC).

The former is the world's number one MMA promotion and recently moved its Asian headquarters to Singapore from Beijing, with an eye on the region's growing interest in the sport; while the latter has gone on to become widely recognised as Asia's biggest MMA promotion since establishing itself here in 2011. But the way Rebel FC's executive director and founder Justin Leong sees it, three isn't exactly a crowd. "Nobody ever complains that there are too many hawkers!" exclaims the 28-year-old, who's a lifelong boxing fan and was managing luxury cruise ships for five years prior to switching to MMA promotion.

Besides, the banking and finance graduate has a rather sound game plan up his sleeves - the lack of "emotional connection" for the MMA audience is something Mr Leong is keen to exploit. "In most of these fights, very often it's just fighter A versus fighter B, but it doesn't have to be just that," he explains. To address that, Rebel FC plans to develop and groom their roster of fighters into memorable characters; not unlike the ones seen in wrestling, though not as over-the-top or theatrical.