| Road Fighting Championship | |
| Current Season: | 2023 in Road FC |
| Owner: | Mun-Hong Jung |
| President: | Dae-Hwan Kim Sang-Min Park |
| Headquarters: | Wonju, South Korea |
| Sport: | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Website: | http://www.roadfc.com |
Road Fighting Championship (Road FC;) is a South Korean-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion which was officially launched in 2010.[1] Prior to December 2016, Road FC had held 52 events in three countries - South Korea, Japan, and China.[2]
Road FC was established in 2010 to promote the sport of MMA which embodies the Asian spirit of martial arts. Over 300 athletes from South Korea, Brazil, North America, Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East have signed agreements with Road FC. Events are being broadcast in more than 50 countries around the world, on dozens of television stations and internet platforms.
Road FC initiated its global strategy in 2015.
Road FC recognizes Asia as the global center of martial arts. In Asia, many combat sports have been born and become world-famous, such as Korea's Olympic sport Taekwondo and China's mammoth national Sanda competition. In the past, Asia was also the global center of MMA and kickboxing, where notable promotions such as Pride and K-1 once drew Asian crowds of 50 to 90 thousand spectators live, and broadcast live around the world. As these organizations subsided, Road FC was launched to take up the mantle in Korea.
Road FC was founded in 2010 by Mun-Hong Jung.[3] It is the largest MMA organization in South Korea following the closure of Spirit MC in 2009,[4] and with expansion into Japan and China, one of the largest in Asia.[5]
The first event, Road FC 001: The Resurrection of Champions, was held on October 23, 2010, in Seoul, South Korea.[6]
In 2012 Road FC organized an amateur MMA competition system to encourage growth, experience, and support for the sport of MMA in Korea.[7] The amateur and semi-pro Central and Into Leagues provide a structured, safe, and competitive atmosphere for beginning fighters. They gain experience before transitioning into professional competition. The Young Guns undercard series features amateurs transitioning into professionals, foreign fighters new to Road FC, and fighters who are trying to make a comeback.
In 2015, Road FC expanded into the Japan market with Road FC 24 in Japan on July 25 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Also in 2015, it held its first event with Road FC 27 in China in Shanghai on December 26,[8] starting a 3-year broadcast deal with China's state broadcaster CCTV.[9] The event was the first live MMA event to be aired on CCTV5 and garnered a viewership of 35 million.[10]
On March 11, 2017, the first event Road FC 037 XX of a female MMA league Road FC XX was held at the Convention Centre, Grand Hilton Seoul in Seoul, South Korea. And, On December 23, Road FC's final event of the year 2017, Road FC 045 XX, took place in Seoul, South Korea. Following it, the 2017 Road FC Awards Ceremony was held. It was the first time a year end awards ceremony had been held in conjunction with an event, and the first time to be aired live on television, on MBC Sports+. Incoming CEO Da Hwan Kim was formally introduced after Founder Jung Mun Hong Jung had stepped down from the position on November 29.[11] Kim was one of South Korea's most well-known MMA and combat sports commentators. He was a long-time MMA fighter and coach, and just recently he won the Wardog Middleweight Championship by a stunning KO. Having so much experience in the MMA industry, Kim was a specialist with a very good ability to speak on fighters and matches.[12]
On January 13, 2018, the sports industry in China attracted massive attention with the announcement of the "2018 China Top 100 Most Sponsored Sports Events Award Ceremony" in Beijing. Road FC is proud to rank as the 15th overall "2018 China Top 100 Most Sponsored Sports Event". In 2017, Road FC was first honored with the award as the 65th most sponsored sports event, and the climb of 50 places in 2018 is a remarkable achievement. Among the sponsors who have supported and committed to Road FC are highly recognizable companies and brands such as Xiaomi, Netease, Panda TV, COK, Red Bull, Master Kong Foods, Orion Foods, Zheng Guanzhuang Health, Chang Fujing Health, Pang Da Auto, Jackie Chan Wine, and Lehua Real Estate.[13]
See main article: 2023 in Road FC and List of Road FC events.
In South Korea, events are broadcast live and on delay and replay on SPOTV since 2018, the South Korean non-'free-to-air' television network which is well known for its sports broadcasting, and online on YouTube, Daum.
| Duration of broadcasting | broadcaster | Broadcasting team | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commentator | Caster | ||||
| 5 | 2018 ~ (Road FC 047 ~) | SPOTV | Gyo Deok Lee | Chan Woong Park | |
| 4 | 2017 ~ 2018 (Road FC 035 ~ Road FC 046) | MBC Sports+ & MBC Sports+2 | Dong Gi Lee, Chang Wook Cheon | Byung Moon Jeong, Soo Hwan Kim | |
| 3 | 2013 ~ 2016 (Road FC 012 ~ Road FC 034) | Super action | Dae Hwan Kim | Soo Hwan Kim | |
| 2 | 2011 ~ 2013 (Road FC 002 ~ Road FC 011) | XTM | Dae Hwan Kim | Sang Yong Choi | |
| 1 | 2010 (Road FC 001) | K-STAR | Ji Hoon Kim | Seung Heon Seong | |
Road FC uses the global MMA rule set.
Non-championship bouts are two or three rounds of five minutes per round with one minute breaks in between rounds. Championship bouts are three rounds of five minutes per round with one minute breaks in between rounds.
As part of the increasing global expansion strategy, Road FC has created the "Unlimited Points System".[19]
This new judging criterion is merit-based and provide a more accurate account of a fighter's performance than the out-dated "10 point must" system. It reward exciting and aggressive fighters while penalizing those who repeatedly stall or avoid action. The "Unlimited Points System" deliver the kind of non-stop, thrilling action for which fans are now clamoring.
In this system, points be awarded for specific action and activity. One point be given for a clear strike, takedown, near submission, full mont or back mount position, clear control on the ground, and aggression. Five points be awarded for a knock down.
Penalties be assessed by the referee. A yellow card for fouls incur a five-point deduction. A blue card worth a two-point deduction be introduced for the purpose of eliminating stalling and avoidance, standing and on the ground.
The Road FC stages bouts in an eight-sided enclosure named "Case".
The Road FC cage is an octagonal structure with walls of metal chain-link fence coated with black vinyl. The standard octagon has a diameter of 9m (30feet) with a 1.8m (05.9feet) high fence. The cage sits atop a platform, raising it 1.2m (03.9feet) from the ground. It has foam padding around the top of the fence and between each of the eight sections. It also has two entry-exit gates opposite each other. The mat, painted with sponsorship logos and art, is replaced for each event.
All competitors fight in approved shorts, without shoes. Tops are only approved for female competitors. Required safety equipment include padded gloves, mouthguard, and protective cups held in place.
Matches may end via:
See also: Mixed martial arts weight classes and List of Road FC champions.
Road FC currently uses ten different weight classes, and weights allow a weighing scale error of over 0.5kg (01.1lb).
| Weight class name | Upper limit | Gender | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in kilograms (kg) | in pounds(lb) | |||
| Atomweight | 48 | 105.8 | Women | |
| Strawweight | 52 | 114.6 | Women | |
| Flyweight | 57 | 125.7 | Men / Women | |
| Bantamweight | 61 | 134.5 | Men / Women | |
| Featherweight | 66 | 145.5 | Men / Women | |
| Lightweight | 70 | 154.3 | Men | |
| Welterweight | 77 | 169.8 | Men | |
| Middleweight | 84 | 185.2 | Men | |
| Light Heavyweight | 93 | 205 | Men | |
| Heavyweight | over 93 | over 205 | Men | |
| Openweight | No weight restrictions | Men / Women | ||
Road FC has so far produced champions in seven weight classes for men and one weight class for women.
| Division | Gender | Champion | Since | Reign (total) | Defenses | Next challenger/title fight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atomweight | Women | Yu Ri Shim | 09. 04. 2021 | 0 | (TBD) | ||
| Flyweight | Men | Vacant | 0 | ||||
| Bantamweight | Men | Vacant | 0 | ||||
| Featherweight | Men | Hae Jin Park | 12. 18. 2022 | 0 | (TBD) | ||
| Lightweight | Men | Si Won Park | 07. 23. 2022 | 1 | (TBD) | ||
| Middleweight | Men |  In Su Hwang | 07. 03. 2021 | 0 | (TBD) | ||
| Light Heavyweight | Men | Tae In Kim | 12. 18. 2022 | 0 | (TBD) | ||
| Openweight | Men | Vacant | 0 |
Road FC CEO is former UFC and Road FC Commentator, Dae Hwan Kim, and the Road FC chairman is Road FC founder and former Road FC CEO, Moon Hong Jung.
Matches are made by matchmaker and operations manager, Young Bok Kwon.
The referees is composed of Sang Joon Park (head referee), Seung Yeol Shin, Tae Wook Lim, Deok Young Jang, Chul Kim, Gi Deok Song, Ho Won Jeong, Mi Ri Kwon.
The Broadcasting team for the television broadcast is composed of Dong Gi Lee (commentator), Chang Wook Chun (commentator), Byung Moon Jeong (caster), Soo Hwan Kim (caster).
The Announce team consists of cage announcers Yong Moon Shin, Jeff Houston and the cage side announcer is Lenne Hardt.
Seul Gi Choi, Ji Woo Lim, Eun Hye Lee are the ROAD girls.
Road FC is affiliated with the following organizations:
Kaiser
ACF Deep Gladiator Grachan Rings/The Outsider Wardog Cage Fight ZST
Superstar Fight WBK CMSL CFK
Invicta FC