Zhang Tiequan

[Jack Rusher]

Zhang Tiequan is an Inner Mongolian Wrestling Champion, San Da champion and BJJ purple belt who's currently 10-0 in MMA. Nice highlight reel:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTQ4NzQ2NTQ0.html

... and an interview in English concerning whether he'll get a chance to fight in upcoming UFC shows in China.

At 16 I won the Inner Mongolian Wrestling Championships and got recruited to fight San Da at one of China’s top San Da Academies. I trained there for about five years and won a few titles until Andy Pi of Art of War and Beijing Jiu-Jitsu came by looking for fighters to compete in MMA. Me and my buddies, Ao Hai Lin and Dai Shuang Hai, were the only guys who took him up on his offer to learn BJJ and MMA at his academy in Beijing. Five years later and we're all all purple belts and undefeated in MMA.

Crosstraining. It's good for you.

[Diesel_tke]

Oh, man! That's a damn good background for some future ass kicking!

[Timrock8]

Yes,I remember an old interview talking about their training

These 4 fighters moved to Beijing where they were provided with accommodation, food, a salary, and training. To improve their Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills they brought in a black belt from Brazil, Pedro Schmall. For their stand-up skills they train San Da (Chinese kickboxing) with the Chinese national team. For their takedown skills they train with the Chinese national wrestling and Judo team, and for their strength and conditioning they hired a national weightlifting athlete who also will be performing in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. These are full-time fighter, which means their office is the gym. They train 2 times per day, 6 day per week

It would be fun to see how he does in the UFC Lightweight division.
http://www.bjj-asia.com/2007/10/fransino-tirta.html

[Jack Rusher]

Update:

Zhang will be fighting Alex Karalexis at WEC 51 on 30 September. To quote Monkey Scrotum Cleaning(tm):

Karalexis returns to the cage for the first time since a WEC 48 loss to Anthony Pettis. Known for an aggressive, brawling style, Karalexis stood toe-to-toe with the dynamic Pettis before succumbing to a second-round triangle choke.

The bout kicked-off the Spike TV-broadcast portion of the wildly successful pay-per-view event.

Karalexis, a cast member of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter," is in need of a win after tasting victory just once in his past four outings.

Meanwhile, Quan fights in the U.S. for the first time.

The undefeated 25-year-old has opened his career with 10-straight stoppage wins, which included victories wins by TKO. Hailing from Inner Mongolia, Quan sports a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and also wrestled throughout his childhood.

[Metsudragon]

This guy looks pretty tough, can't wait for his wec debut!

[Jack Rusher]

Nice piece about Zhang -- who makes his US debut tomorrow night -- on Sherdog:

Sure to be on the menu are the vicious sanshou strikes and versatile ground game which have helped run Zhang's professional record to a perfect 16-0.

Zhang arrived in Colorado almost two weeks early to begin acclimatizing his body to the state’s notoriously energy-sapping high altitude. He has taken up training at Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo., the home of the likes of Shane Carwin, Brendan Schaub, Tyler Toner, and in this case, fellow transplant “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.

Video of Zhang training with WEC fighter Tyler Tony this week:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjA4OTc5Njgw.html

[Permalost]

Oooh, cool background. Should see some good throws and takedowns from him.

[Jack Rusher]

Zhang's first fight for WEC:

YouTube - chinese guy in wec(ufc) first fight

... have a look before it gets pulled down.

[keyoz]

... have a look before it gets pulled down.

...to late. :sad5:
Try this instead: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjEwODk0NTU2.html

[elephant]

in case the youtube gets taken down

http://martialartsrainbowmagic.blogs...-tie-quan.html