The Chinese governmental division that controls martial arts within mainland China, the Wushu Administrative Center, recently issued one permit to stage mixed martial arts events as a legal sport throughout the country.

While there were several suitors, including Zuffa LLC, Joel Resnick believes his startup group, the Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation, was awarded the government sanction because it offered the right “mix between Chinese culture and Western mentality. I think that’s really what did it.”

“Most importantly we have to be able to award a country’s national MMA championship, which at the end of the day is what we’re doing,” said the 51-year-old Canadian, a longtime resident of Shanghai and principal in the Ranik Group — a buying agent that calls Nike a major client.

RUFF is three cards into what its backers hope is the start of something massive.

For the UFC to host something on the mainland, it would need to be considered a one-off cultural event, which means no ticket sales, no revenue streams.

The idea for RUFF came about five years ago when Resnick’s son, Brandon, a teenager at the time, talked about his love of MMA. Brandon Resnick, now almost 20 and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, serves as RUFF’s matchmaker and talent scout. RUFF fighters compete under the Unified Rules, and referees are certified under John McCarthy’s C.O.M.M.A.N.D system. The Chinese government too will be a sort of talent scout via its support for MMA, especially in schools. Resnick expects the government to help with the cost of finding and grooming fighters, as well as regulating them through soon-to-be formed associations.

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