Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out these photos from Dana White’s Contender Series 51 in Las Vegas.
Check out these photos from the fights at Dana White’s Contender Series 51 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of Joshua Hedges, UFC)
Josh Wang-Kim will be fighting for a UFC contract – and he’ll set the stage for his twin brother to do so in the near future.
Since Day 1, it’s always been together.
It’ll be no different Tuesday when [autotag]Josh-Wang Kim[/autotag] fights for a UFC contract, with his twin brother John in his corner.
Highly touted since their ascent through the amateur ranks as teenagers, “The Twin Dragons” have been circled on every fight card they’ve fought on. At Dana White’s Contender Series, Wang-Kim (5-1) hopes the UFC president joined the list of circlers.
“Every time we step out on that canvas, the artist paints something unique and something new every time,” Wang-Kim told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. I’m just excited to paint something uniquely brilliant and masterful for Dana White to be like, ‘Oh sh*t. This is what I’ve been looking for. This is it right here.'”
In 2020, “The Twin Dragons” turned professional. Already turning heads because of their combined amateur record of 30-2 (15-1 each, of course), the brothers declared upcoming dominance on the pro circuit. However, due to their reputations and a pandemic, it took a little longer for the wheels to start rolling.
Josh has compiled a 5-1 record with his only loss a disqualification for strikes to the back of the head in a fight he was winning. John was successful in his professional debut but has not competed since for personal reasons and remains at 1-0. A return for him on the Nevada regional circuit is on the horizon, however.
Although this opportunity has long been one Josh Wang-Kim has anticipated without a doubt, he would’ve loved to have his brother competing on the same card as a fighter. Wang-Kim hypothesized perhaps the universe always had it planned this way.
“Like Max Holloway says, ‘It is what it is.’ I was first out of the womb. He was second out of the womb. I’ll be first to the UFC. I’ll be second to the UFC,” Wang-Kim said. It’s like I’ll be the tip of the spear and he’ll follow. In a perfect world, yeah, it would’ve been great for us to debut together. But this is not a perfect world and there are no entitlements with anything. I’m just very blessed that I get to do what I love and he also gets to do what he loves. We’re just here to make magic and make history.”
After 12 weeks of a grueling, all-in training camp, Wang-Kim is one impressive win away from making a dream come true – and introducing the UFC to “The Twin Dragons.”
“I’ve been training and prepping for 14 years, 22 fights,” Wang-Kim said. “This is not my first rodeo. I’ve done this dance more times than I could count. I’m excited. … It’s probably the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m going to grab by the throat and make it my bitch. The pressure – I love the pressure. Give me the pressure. Pressure creates diamonds. I’m ready to shine tomorrow night.”
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Two more UFC hopefuls will battle for a contract this summer in Las Vegas.
Two rising bantamweights from opposite corners of the globe will meet in Las Vegas with the opportunity to earn a UFC contract this summer.
One half of the “The Twin Dragons” [autotag]Josh Wang-Kim[/autotag] (5-1) will square off with EFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Cameron Saaiman[/autotag] (5-0) on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 6. Their bout is scheduled for the Aug. 23 installment, DWCS 51.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Wang-Kim, 29, and his twin brother Josh, make up the professional MMA duo known as “The Twin Dragons.” The two brothers turned heads during their amateur careers, as they accumulated a combined record of 28-2 – with 14 wins and one loss apiece. While John has been less active due to unexpected delays, Josh has finished four of his five wins. His only loss came via disqualification.
Saaiman, 21, made his professional MMA debut at 19 years old. He quickly shot up the EFC ladder en route to a title clinching win over Sindile Manengela in June. Four of his five professional victories came by stoppage.
To see an entire DWCS, Season 6 lineup, click here.
The up-to-date DWCS 51 card includes:
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