Jan. 19, 2021
Boxer Oleksandr Usyk Challenges Shao Kahn During WePlay Dragon Temple Mortal Kombat 11 Tournament
3 min read
Undisputed world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk steps into the fighting ring against the Mortal Kombat 11 character Shao Kahn.
Fourteen Mortal Kombat 11 pro players put their skills to the test during the $60,000 WePlay Dragon Temple tournament. Tekken Master became the strongest one and went home with the trophy and a bonus of $24,000.
WePlay Dragon Temple champion Tekken Master holding the trophy. Photo credit: WePlay Holding
The event organizer threw a spectacular show for the audience and players once again. The newly built WePlay Esports Arena Kyiv turned into an evening Asian town with pagodas, rooftop dragons, red and yellow paper lanterns, blooming trees, and a fighting ring in the center.
Stuntmen fight on the arena stage AKA fighting ring during the Mortal Kombat 11 tournament by WePlay Esports. Photo credit: WePlay Holding
The new company and fighting league
But there were not only stuntmen and esports players battling in the tournament ring. Oleksandr Usyk, the real-world undisputed boxing champion, and Shao Kahn, the ferocious and power-hungry character from the MK11 world, faced each other at the tournament’s final day:
This is how Oleksandr Usyk and WePlay Esports Managing Partners Yura Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot announced their partnership. They presented a new company that will organize fighting game tournaments under the WePlay Ultimate Fighting League.
“Competitive gaming is both a popular hobby for many young people and a promising direction for investors. I chatted with Yura Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot, they told me the specifics of the industry, and I decided to try my hand in this business. Besides, I played games before, and now I'm back to this hobby,” said Oleksandr Usyk.
Oleg Krot emphasized that in 2020, the blurring lines between the online and offline worlds disappeared altogether. “Global lifestyle changes inspired us to forge this partnership. We bring together traditional sports and esports to create a new entertainment product for the public that enjoys cheering for boxers, UFC fighters, or other martial arts athletes but could also have a sweet spot for fighting games.”
The new company will be a part of the WePlay Esports media holding company. The first one of the three WUFL seasons already on the agenda is scheduled for spring 2021. The online tournament with a LAN final — with players attending in person (and all the health and safety precautions) — will take place at WePlay Esports' second arena in Los Angeles.
Which esports discipline will be chosen for the first WUFL season? The new company founders are keeping it a secret — for now. But according to Yura Lazebnikov, the partners are considering titles such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tekken 7, and Street Fighter V. So, we will have to wait and see what WePlay Esports has in store for the viewers!