- Denis Kang
-
Denis Kang 
Denis Kang at weigh-ins, pictured rightBorn September 17, 1977
Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and MiquelonOther names The Super Korean[1] Nationality Canadian Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) Division Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
HeavyweightReach 77.0 in (196 cm)[2] Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing Fighting out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Team American Top Team,
Zahabi MMA
Tristar GymRank black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Years active 1998–present Kickboxing record Total 1 Wins 0 Losses 1 By knockout 1 Draws 0 Mixed martial arts record Total 52 Wins 34 By knockout 12 By submission 16 By decision 6 Losses 14 By knockout 4 By submission 8 By decision 2 Draws 2 No contests 2 Other information Website http://www.deniskang.com/ Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog Denis Kang Hangul 데니스 강 Hanja 데니스 姜 Revised Romanization Deniseu Gang McCune–Reischauer Tenisŭ Kang Denis Kang (born September 17, 1977) is a Canadian mixed martial artist of Korean French descent. He was the PRIDE FC welterweight grand prix finalist in which he lost to Kazuo Misaki. Kang is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, originally trained and mentored by Marcus Soares.
Contents
Personal life
Denis Kang was born in the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon to a Korean father and French mother.[3] He and his family relocated to the Canary Islands and finally North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1988. Kang speaks fluent French and English, and is also said to be fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, which he learned via constant relocation.[citation needed]. He has a younger brother, Julien Kang, who is an actor in South Korea.
On September 23, 2006, Kang's fiancée, Shelby Walker, who was also a professional fighter, was found dead after an apparent overdose of pain medication.[4][5] Kang had racked up a 23 fight unbeaten streak prior to his fiancée's death, but has since won only 6 of 13 bouts.
MMA career
Denis Kang's MMA career began in 1998 at the Ultimate Warrior Challenge in Vancouver, Canada. Kang was successful in his debut fight, winning by submission (rear naked choke) over Eric Harcrow. Kang would go on to win his next 2 fights before going 2–5 over his next 8 with one no contest against Dennis Hallman. He would go 7–7 with one no contest in his first 15 fights, with a few convincing defeats.
After winning 5 of his next 6 fights, Kang signed a contract with Spirit MC, a South Korea MMA organization. Denis went 5–0 while fighting in Korea and was crowned the Spirit MC Heavyweight Champion. Following this, Denis relocated to Florida and joined American Top Team.
It was at this time that Kang caught the attention of the PRIDE Fighting Championships. Kang signed a contract with PRIDE and made his debut at PRIDE Bushido 6, where he defeated Japanese opponent Takahiro Oba via armbar at 4:24 of round one. Under the Korean banner, Denis went on to win his next two fights in PRIDE, with a victory coming over Englishman Mark Weir at PRIDE Bushido 10. In between fights for Pride, Denis fought American Albert Basconcelles and knocked him out within 12 seconds of the opening bell. At Bushido 11, Denis Kang continued his winning streak by knocking out Chute Boxe member Murilo "Ninja" Rua in 15 seconds in the first round of the PRIDE Bushido Welterweight (183 lb) Grand Prix. At Bushido 12, Denis submitted Armenian Amar Suloev via rear naked choke to advance to the semi-final round of the Welterweight Grand Prix. With this win, Kang was then 18–0–1 in his last 19 contests. However, after advancing through the semi-final round of the Bushido tournament and beating Akihiro Gono on November 5, 2006 he was defeated by Kazuo Misaki in the final at Bushido 13. Kang had torn his right biceps muscle earlier that night in his win over Gono.[6]
Kang had only one match in 2007 after breaking his hand (an injury that will reappear over and over again) in a match against Jungkyu Choi for the Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship on March 11. Kang won via unanimous decision but was unable to compete for several months.[citation needed]
After the contract termination of PRIDE, Kang moved to K-1 Hero's maintaining the championship of Spirit MC. Kang made his K-1 Hero's debut on October 28, 2007, in "K-1 Hero's in Seoul". His opponent was Yoshihiro Akiyama who was returning to MMA after a 10 month suspension. Kang lost via TKO.
Kang next fight was on April 29, 2008, in the opening round of the DREAM Middleweight Granx Prix, losing to Gegard Mousasi via triangle choke.
On August 30, 2008, Kang defended his Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kim Jae Young by TKO due to strikes at 1:31 of the first round.[7]
Kang defeated UFC veteran Marvin Eastman by TKO on October 25, 2008, at “Raw Combat: Redemption” in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The fight lasted 48 seconds.
UFC
Denis Kang made his UFC debut on January 17, 2009 against Alan Belcher despite suffering from ankle injury.[8] Although Kang controlled the fight, he lost by guillotine choke at the end of round two after a takedown attempt.
Kang redeemed himself with a victory over Xavier Foupa-Pokam at UFC 97 by unanimous decision.
Kang faced Michael Bisping on November 14, 2009 at UFC 105.[9] In an interview about his fight with Bisping, Kang revealed he wanted a title fight with Anderson Silva.[10] Bisping TKO'd Kang in the 2nd round.[11] Even though Bisping was the crowd favourite in his home town Manchester and Kang was being booed on, Kang dropped Bisping with a right hand in the first round which rocked Bisping.[12] Kang followed Bisping to the floor and attempted submissions, but Bisping defended well and neutralised Kang's attacks despite Kang briefly having full mount.[11] In the 2nd round Bisping secured a single-leg takedown and the momentum of the fight shifted : he unleashed a vicious ground and pound attack on the Canadian, which Kang failed to recover from.[13] The fight was awarded Fight of the Night honours, giving both Kang and Bisping a $40,000 bonus check.[14]
Denis Kang was cut from the UFC on Dec. 9 2009, along with Brock Larson, Rolando Delgado and Jason Dent. Kang recently announced he has signed with W1 MMA and will fight for their vacant middleweight title on December 18, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec.
Post-UFC
Denis defeated Dae Won Kim at W-1: Judgment day.[15] Kang faced off against former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho on July 18, 2010 at an Impact Fighting Championships event.[16] The fight was declared a split draw.
Denis joined the Korean MMA promotion Road FC by signing a multi-fight non-exclusive deal. [17]
Championships and Accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- PRIDE Fighting Championships
- Spirit MC
- Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
- Road FC
- Fight of the Night (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown 52 matches 34 wins 14 losses By knockout 12 4 By submission 16 8 By decision 6 2 Draws 2 No contests 2 Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes Loss 34-14-2 (2) 
Seung Bae WhiTKO (knees) Road FC 3: Explosion July 24, 2011 2 3:58 Seoul, South Korea Loss 34-13-2 (2) 
Jesse TaylorSubmission (rear naked choke) Battlefield Fight League 8: Island Beatdown May 28, 2011 1 1:57 British Columbia, Canada Win 34-12-2 (2) Eun Soo LeeDecision (unanimous) Road FC 2: Alive April 16, 2011 3 5:00 Seoul, South Korea Fought at 205 lbs Draw 33-12-2 (2) 
Paulo FilhoDraw (split) Impact FC 2 July 18, 2010 3 5:00 Sydney, Australia Win 33–12–1(2) Dae Won KimSubmission (arm-triangle choke) W-1: Judgment day June 19, 2010 1 1:49 Laval, Quebec Loss 32–12–1(2) 
Michael BispingTKO (strikes) UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera November 14, 2009 2 4:24 Manchester, England Won Fight of the Night Honors Win 32–11–1(2) 
Xavier Foupa-PokamDecision (unanimous) UFC 97: Redemption April 18, 2009 3 5:00 Montreal, Canada Loss 31–11–1(2) Alan BelcherSubmission (guillotine choke) UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson January 17, 2009 2 4:36 Dublin, Ireland Win 31–10–1(2) Marvin EastmanKO (punches) Raw Combat: Redemption October 25, 2008 1 0:48 Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win 30–10–1(2) Kim Jae YoungKO (punches and stomp) Spirit MC August 30, 2008 1 1:13 Seoul, South Korea Defended the Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship Loss 29–10–1(2) 
Gegard MousasiSubmission (triangle choke) DREAM.2 April 29, 2008 1 3:10 Saitama, Japan DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round Loss 29–9–1(2) 
Yoshihiro AkiyamaKO (punches) Hero's 2007 in Korea October 27, 2007 1 4:45 Seoul, South Korea Win 29–8–1(2) Jung Gyu ChoiDecision (majority) Spirit MC March 11, 2007 3 5:00 Seoul, South Korea Won the Spirit MC Heavyweight Championship Loss 28–8–1(2) Kazuo MisakiDecision (split) PRIDE Bushido 13 November 5, 2006 3 5:00 Yokohama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Final Win 28–7–1(2) Akihiro GonoDecision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 13 November 5, 2006 2 5:00 Yokohama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal Win 27–7–1(2) 
Amar SuloevSubmission (rear-naked choke) PRIDE Bushido 12 August 26, 2006 1 4:10 Nagoya, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal Win 26–7–1(2) Murilo RuaKO (punches) PRIDE Bushido 11 June 4, 2006 1 0:15 Saitama, Japan PRIDE 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round Win 25–7–1(2) Albert BasconcellesTKO (punches) Spirit MC April 22, 2006 1 0:12 Seoul, South Korea Win 24–7–1(2) Mark WeirSubmission (knees) PRIDE Bushido 10 April 2, 2006 1 4:55 Tokyo, Japan Win 23–7–1(2) Ron FieldsSubmission (rear-naked choke) AFC 14 – Absolute Fighting Championships 14 December 10, 2005 1 2:46 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US NC 22–7–1(2) Robert VillegasNo Contest Spirit MC October 29, 2005 1 0:00 Seoul, South Korea Win 22–7–1(1) 
Andrei SemenovDecision (unanimous) PRIDE Bushido 8 July 17, 2005 2 5:00 Nagoya, Japan Win 21–7–1(1) Takahiro ObaSubmission (armbar) PRIDE Bushido 6 April 3, 2005 1 4:24 Yokohama, Japan Win 20–7–1(1) Alexei VezelozorovSubmission (choke) M-1 December 4, 2004 1 1:17 Moscow, Russia Win 19–7–1(1) Jin Ho YangTKO (punches) Spirit MC September 11, 2004 1 0:49 Seoul, South Korea Win 18–7–1(1) Kim Jae YoungSubmission (arm triangle choke) Spirit MC September 11, 2004 1 1:38 Seoul, South Korea Win 17–7–1(1) Junpei HamadaSubmission (armbar) Spirit MC September 11, 2004 1 2:35 Seoul, South Korea Win 16–7–1(1) 
Kobus HuisamenTKO (punches) Spirit MC June 12, 2004 1 1:06 Seoul, South Korea Win 15–7–1(1) Hyun Chul ChoSubmission (rear naked choke) Spirit MC April 10, 2004 1 2:06 Seoul, South Korea Win 14–7–1(1) Hyung Jun KimTKO (punches) Spirit MC February 7, 2004 1 1:13 Seoul, South Korea Win 13–7–1-(1) Kim Jae YoungTKO (punches) Spirit MC February 7, 2004 1 0:38 Seoul, South Korea Draw 12–7–1(1) Andrei SemenovDraw M-1 December 5, 2003 1 10:00 St. Petersburg, Russia Win 12–7 (1) 
Stephan PotvinTKO (punches) TKO Major League MMA September 6, 2003 3 2:22 Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win 11–7 (1) Kaipo KalamaDecision (majority) SB 30 – Collision Course June 13, 2003 3 3:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, US Win 10–7 (1) Brendan SeguinSubmission (armbar) SB 30 – Collision Course June 13, 2003 1 2:24 Honolulu, Hawaii, US Win 9–7 (1) Keith RockelKO (punch) USMMA 3 – Ring of Fury May 3, 2003 2 2:59 Boston, Massachusetts, US Win 8–7 (1) Chris PeakSubmission (rear naked choke) WFF 4 – Civil War April 4, 2003 1 0:57 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Loss 7–7 (1) Jason MillerSubmission (rear naked choke) EC 50 – Extreme Challenge 50 February 23, 2003 2 1:41 Salt Lake City, Utah, US Loss 7–6 (1) Joe DoerksenSubmission (triangle choke) UCC 11 – The Next Level October 11, 2002 1 4:49 Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win 7–5 (1) Pat HealySubmission (guillotine choke) RITR 7 – Rumble in the Ring 7 July 20, 2002 1 3:42 Auburn, Washington, US Win 6–5 (1) Shane BieverSubmission (armlock) WFF 2 – World Freestyle Fighting 2 July 20, 2002 1 3:03 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada NC 5–5 (1) Dennis HallmanNo Contest WFF 1 – World Freestyle Fighting 1 April 13, 2002 2 3:15 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Hallman accidentally headbutted Kang and opened a cut above the eye Loss 5–5 Marty ArmendarezTKO (punches) Pancrase May 13, 2001 3 3:45 Oroville, California, US Loss 5–4 Osami ShibuyaSubmission (rear naked choke) IFC WC 15 – Warriors Challenge 15 August 31, 2001 1 3:52 Tokyo, Japan Loss 5–3 Keiichiro YamamiyaDecision (majority) Pancrase December 4, 2000 2 3:00 Tokyo, Japan Win 5–2 Minoru SuzukiSubmission (back injury) Pancrase September 24, 2000 1 3:43 Yokohama, Japan Win 4–2 Lonnie CanidaTKO (punches) WCT – Western Canada's Toughest March 18, 2000 1 4:06 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Loss 3–2 Joe SlickSubmission (arm triangle choke) EC 24 – Extreme Challenge 24 May 15, 1999 1 5:53 Salt Lake City, Utah, US Loss 3–1 Jacen FlynnSubmission (guillotine choke) BRI 2 – Bas Rutten Invitational 2 April 24, 1999 1 4:07 Littleton, Colorado, USA Win 3–0 Tom BolgerSubmission (triangle choke) BRI 2 – Bas Rutten Invitational 2 April 24, 1999 1 1:55 Littleton, Colorado, USA Win 2–0 Fadi HabibTKO (punches) UWC 2 – Ultimate Warrior Challenge 2 November 1, 1998 1 0:53 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win 1–0 Eric HarcrowSubmission (rear naked choke) UWC – Ultimate Warrior Challenge August 2, 1998 1 0:15 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Kickboxing record
Kickboxing record 0 wins, 1 lossResult Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes Loss 
Kaoklai KaennorsingKO (Right Hook) K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Seoul July 7, 2004 1 1:48 Seoul, South Korea Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest
Submission grappling record
Result Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Notes Loss Andy ReesePoints (Under 87.9 KG) References
- ^ "Denis Kang". MMARising.com. http://www.mmarising.com/fighters/dkang.html. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ http://www.fightmagazine.com/fighters/denis-kang-601.htm
- ^ Deniskang.com. Official biography. Accessed 2008-05-29.
- ^ "Shelby Walker Obituary". 2006-10-05. http://www.shelbywalker.com/news/stories/162071004.php. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ "Kang banking on fresh start with UFC". ESPN. 2009-01-13. http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3824321. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ Bolduc, Justin (November 28, 2006). "Din Thomas - Talks PRIDE and the Future". Nokaut. http://www.nokaut.com/?id=12&solo_news=583&lang=e&cur=eur.
- ^ Kang Stomps Kim, Again
- ^ http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?articleid=2009021716405230694&linkid=343&newssetid=1867
- ^ "Report: Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang at UFC 105". Inside Fights. 2009-08-16. http://insidefights.com/2009/08/21/report-michael-bisping-vs-denis-kang-to-headline-ufc-105/. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Denis Kang talks Bisping, PRIDE and Anderson Silva". iFight365.com. http://www.ifight365.com/2009/11/ufc-exclusive-denis-kang-talks-bisping-pride-and-anderson-silva/.
- ^ a b http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=9998&zoneid=13
- ^ http://mmajunkie.com/news/16843/ufc-105-play-by-play-and-live-results.mma
- ^ http://www.canada.com/Couture+earns+unanimous+decision+over+Vera/2225768/story.html
- ^ http://mmajunkie.com/news/16854/ufc-105-fighter-bonuses-40000-awards-issued-to-quartet-of-fighters.mma
- ^ http://mmehfighter.com/2010/06/19/w1-judgement-day-quick-results-and-updates/
- ^ "Paulo Filho faces Denis Kang at Impact FC". portaldovaletudo.uol.com.br. http://portaldovaletudo.uol.com.br/english/?channel=2&id=129. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
- ^ http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/17/denis-kang-signs-with-koreas-road-fc/
External links
Categories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- Canadian mixed martial artists
- Middleweight mixed martial artists
- Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Canadian kickboxers
- Heavyweight kickboxers
- Canadian practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- People from Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- People from Vancouver
- Sportspeople from British Columbia
- Canadian people of French descent
- Canadian people of Korean descent
- French emigrants to Canada
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