Victor Cui: Difference between revisions
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#articles.chicagotribune.com |
|||
(79 intermediate revisions by 41 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Canadian sports executive}} |
|||
{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
||
| name = Victor Cui |
| name = Victor Cui |
||
| image = Victor Cui.jpg |
| image = Victor Cui (cropped).jpg |
||
| image_size = |
| image_size = |
||
| alt = |
| alt = |
||
| caption = |
| caption = Cui in 2012 |
||
| birth_name = |
| birth_name = |
||
| birth_date = |
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |50|2022|01|05}} |
||
| birth_place = |
| birth_place = [[Edmonton]], Alberta, Canada |
||
| death_date = |
| death_date = |
||
| death_place = |
| death_place = |
||
| |
| education = [[University of Alberta]] |
||
| |
| occupation = Sports executive |
||
| known_for = Former CEO of [[ONE Championship]] and the [[Edmonton Elks]] |
|||
| parents = |
|||
| |
| title = |
||
| |
| spouse = |
||
| |
| website = {{official URL}} |
||
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes |
|||
⚫ | |||
| s = 崔伟德 |
|||
| p = Cuī Wěidé |
|||
}} |
|||
}} |
|||
'''Victor Cui''' ({{IPAc-en|k|w|iː}}) is a Canadian sports executive who most recently was the president and CEO of the [[Edmonton Elks]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] from 2022 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|date=2022-01-25|title=Elks name Edmonton-born Cui president and CEO - TSN.ca|url=https://www.tsn.ca/edmonton-elks-victor-cui-1.1750314|access-date=2022-01-25|website=TSN|language=en}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | Before setting up ONE in 2011 Cui had nearly 15 years of experience in the sports media industry and was |
||
⚫ | Cui was previously the co-founder and CEO of [[ONE Championship]] (ONE), a [[mixed martial arts]] organization based in [[Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/03/11/mixed-martial-arts-one-fc-returning-to-manila-in-may/ |title=Mixed martial arts-ONE FC returning to Manila in May |publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2013-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/6/13/4425856/mma-yasuhiro-urushitani-vs-shinichi-kojima-3-one-fc-flyweight-title |title=Asian MMA: Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Shinichi Kojima Flyweight Title bout set for ONE FC in Jakarta |publisher=bloodyelbow.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://asia.eurosport.com/mixed-martial-arts/aoki-cruises-to-one-fc-lightweight-title_sto3698483/story.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023071528/http://asia.eurosport.com/mixed-martial-arts/aoki-cruises-to-one-fc-lightweight-title_sto3698483/story.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |title=Aoki cruises to ONE FC lightweight title|publisher=eurosport.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> |
||
Cui has previously worked as a senior executive at [[ESPN Star Sports]] and the [[PGA Tour]] and has also been involved in [[X Games]], [[Olympics Games]], [[Commonwealth Games]], and many other sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/08/30/victor-cui-one-fc-will-be-king-of-mma-in-asia |title=Victor Cui: ONE FC Will Be King of MMA in Asia|publisher=mmafighting.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | |||
The first ONE show, [[ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion]], took place at the 12,000 capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium on 3 September 2011 and featured [[Phil Baroni]], [[Yoshiyuki Yoshida]], Gregor Gracie, and [[Eduard Folayang]]. According to Cui everyone, including his wife, told him to use a smaller venue but he was determined to prove them wrong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/sportztackle/one-fc-ceo-victor-cui-pure-genius-pure-134038572.html |title=ONE FC’s CEO Victor Cui: Pure Genius, Pure Filipino|publisher=yahoo.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> Since then the [[Singapore]] based promotion has held sold out events in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Jakarta]], [[Manila]], and [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmamania.com/2013/7/24/4551798/one-fc-victor-cui-singapore-ufc-asia-mma |title=ONE FC CEO Victor Cui talks Hong Kong debut, UFC in Singapore, Fernandes vs. Aoki and more|publisher=mmamania.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> secured a ten-year TV deal with [[ESPN Star Sports]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/one-fc-announces-asian-tv-deal-with-espn|title=ONE FC Announces Asian TV Deal with ESPN |publisher=mmaweekly.com |accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> and signed well known fighters including [[Rolles Gracie]], [[Masakatsu Ueda]], [[Renato Sobral]], [[Andrei Arlovski]], [[Roger Huerta]] and [[Tim Sylvia]]. |
|||
Cui was born in [[Edmonton]], Alberta, to Filipino parents and has Chinese ancestry on his father's side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadians play big role on Myanmar MMA card|url=http://www.mykawartha.com/sports-story/5734814-canadians-play-big-role-on-myanmar-mma-card/|publisher=myKawartha.com|accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref> At the age of five, Cui and his family left Edmonton for [[West Africa]], and they returned to Edmonton when he was 13.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 21, 2012|title=Former Albertan Victor Cui looks to build mixed martial arts circuit in Asia|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/258907/former-albertan-victor-cui-looks-to-build-mixed-martial-arts-circuit-in-asia/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=[[Global News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Cui attended the [[University of Alberta]], where he was a member of [[Phi Gamma Delta]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Epsilon Alpha 2012 – 2013 Chapter History|url=https://www.phigamarchives.org/islandora/object/phigam%3A13557/datastream/OBJ/view|website=Phi Gamma Delta}}</ref> |
|||
== Career == |
|||
⚫ | Cui has |
||
⚫ | Before setting up ONE in 2011, Cui had nearly 15 years of experience in the sports media industry and was behind Martial Combat, a promotion which ran two shows per month at [[Resorts World Sentosa]] from May to October in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/One-FC-CEO-Touts-UFC-of-Asia-Debut-Show-to-Stream-on-Sherdog-34333 |title=ONE FC CEO TOUTS 'UFC OF ASIA,' DEBUT SHOW TO STREAM ON SHERDOG|publisher=sherdog.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> |
||
Cui |
Cui has previously worked as a senior executive at [[ESPN Star Sports]] and the [[PGA Tour]] and has also been involved in [[X Games]], [[Olympic Games]], [[Commonwealth Games]], and many other sporting events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/08/30/victor-cui-one-fc-will-be-king-of-mma-in-asia |title=Victor Cui: ONE FC Will Be King of MMA in Asia|date=30 August 2011 |publisher=mmafighting.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> |
||
The first ONE show, [[ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion]], took place at the [[Singapore Indoor Stadium]] on 3 September 2011 and featured [[Phil Baroni]], [[Yoshiyuki Yoshida]], Gregor Gracie, and [[Eduard Folayang]]. |
|||
⚫ | |||
Cui |
According to Cui, everyone, including his wife, told him to use a smaller venue, but he was determined to prove them wrong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/sportztackle/one-fc-ceo-victor-cui-pure-genius-pure-134038572.html |title=ONE FC's CEO Victor Cui: Pure Genius, Pure Filipino|date=28 May 2013 |publisher=yahoo.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> Since then the [[Singapore]] based promotion has held sold out events in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Jakarta]], [[Manila]], and [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmamania.com/2013/7/24/4551798/one-fc-victor-cui-singapore-ufc-asia-mma |title=ONE FC CEO Victor Cui talks Hong Kong debut, UFC in Singapore, Fernandes vs. Aoki and more|date=24 July 2013 |publisher=mmamania.com|accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> secured a ten-year TV deal with [[ESPN Star Sports]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/one-fc-announces-asian-tv-deal-with-espn|title=ONE FC Announces Asian TV Deal with ESPN |date=30 January 2012 |publisher=mmaweekly.com |accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> and signed various fighters. |
||
=== ONE Elite Agency === |
|||
In November 2018, Cui launched a new global company called ONE Elite Agency. The agency manages martial arts athletes from ONE Championship, esports players, artists and musicians. |
|||
=== Edmonton Elks === |
|||
In January 2022, Cui was named the president and CEO of the [[Edmonton Elks]], replacing Chris Presson who was fired after the [[2021 Edmonton Elks season|2021 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-25|title=Victor Cui, co-founder of MMA's One Championship, named Elks president and CEO|language=en-CA|work=[[The Toronto Star]]|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/cfl/2022/01/25/victor-cui-co-founder-of-mmas-one-championship-named-elks-president-and-ceo.html|access-date=2022-01-25|issn=0319-0781}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2022-01-25|title=Elks announce ONE Championship's Victor Cui as new president, CEO|url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/elks-announce-one-championship-s-victor-cui-as-new-president-ceo-1.5753474|access-date=2022-01-25|website=[[CTV News]] Edmonton|language=en}}</ref> Cui explained his decision to return to Edmonton to lead the team he grew up watching as "a dream come true".<ref name=":0" /> In the team's first home game under Cui's leadership, the Elks hosted "Stand With Ukraine" night in support of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2022 |title=SIMMONS: Argos and the rest of the CFL should 'Stand With Ukraine' as the Elks are doing |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/football/cfl/simmons-argos-and-the-rest-of-the-cfl-should-stand-with-ukraine-as-the-elks-are-doing |access-date=2022-06-07 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |language=en-CA}}</ref> |
|||
Cui and the Elks mutually parted ways in August 2023, as the Elks were in the midst of a 22-game home losing streak that began in 2019. According to Cui, the move was made to allow him to focus on his family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swensrude |first=Stephanie |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Victor Cui out as president and CEO of Edmonton Elks football team |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9897626/edmonton-elks-victor-cui/ |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> |
|||
== Awards and recognitions == |
|||
⚫ | Cui has been described as "The most powerful man in Asian MMA" due to ONE's success and his relationships with other people in the industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/359005/cebuano-most-powerful-mma-organizer-in-asia|title=Cebuano most powerful MMA organizer in Asia |publisher=Philippines Daily Inquirer |accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> He was one of only five candidates to be nominated for 'Leading Man of the Year' the 2012 [[World MMA Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightersonlymag.com/content/news/18004-fighters-only-world-mma-awards-2012-results|title=FIGHTERS ONLY WORLD MMA AWARDS 2012: RESULTS|publisher=Fighters Only|accessdate=15 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114004436/http://www.fightersonlymag.com/content/news/18004-fighters-only-world-mma-awards-2012-results|archive-date=14 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the only representative of an Asian promotion on this shortlist. |
||
Cui's family is originally from [[Cebu]], and he was a major awardee at the 31st SAC-SMC Cebu Sports Awards on March 17, 2013 for his work in turning ONE into the biggest MMA organization in Asia and showcasing Filipino fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/370679/world-taekwondo-champ-mma-promoter-get-award#ixzz2aOxW4xOi |title=World taekwondo champ, MMA promoter get award|publisher=Cebu Daily News |accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> |
|||
==Personal life== |
|||
Cui has a black belt in Taekwondo, as does his wife, and has been a fan of [[Mixed Martial Arts]] ever since watching [[UFC 1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/sports/promoters-circling-one-another-as-mma-takes-root-in-asia.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=Promoters Circling One Another as M.M.A. Takes Root in Asia |work=New York Times |accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> He lives in Edmonton with his wife, two children and parents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elks President and CEO Victor Cui |url=https://www.goelks.com/victor-cui/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Edmonton Elks |language=en}}</ref> Cui also was a reservist in the [[Royal Canadian Navy]].<ref name=":0" /> |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
{{ONE Championship}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cui, Victor}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cui, Victor}} |
||
[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
||
[[Category:Canadian male taekwondo practitioners]] |
|||
[[Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators]] |
[[Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators]] |
||
[[Category:Canadian media executives]] |
[[Category:Canadian media executives]] |
||
[[Category:Filipino media executives]] |
|||
[[Category:Mixed martial arts executives]] |
[[Category:Mixed martial arts executives]] |
||
[[Category:Canadian people of Filipino descent]] |
[[Category:Canadian people of Filipino descent]] |
||
[[Category:Canadian people of Chinese descent]] |
|||
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in Singapore]] |
[[Category:Canadian expatriates in Singapore]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Edmonton Elks personnel]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:ONE Championship people]] |
Latest revision as of 04:27, 11 September 2024
Victor Cui | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | 1971 or 1972 (age 52–53) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | ||||||
Education | University of Alberta | ||||||
Occupation | Sports executive | ||||||
Known for | Former CEO of ONE Championship and the Edmonton Elks | ||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Simplified Chinese | 崔伟德 | ||||||
| |||||||
Website | victorcui |
Victor Cui (/kwiː/) is a Canadian sports executive who most recently was the president and CEO of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League from 2022 to 2023.[1]
Cui was previously the co-founder and CEO of ONE Championship (ONE), a mixed martial arts organization based in Singapore.[2][3][4]
Early life
[edit]Cui was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Filipino parents and has Chinese ancestry on his father's side.[5] At the age of five, Cui and his family left Edmonton for West Africa, and they returned to Edmonton when he was 13.[6] Cui attended the University of Alberta, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta.[7]
Career
[edit]Before setting up ONE in 2011, Cui had nearly 15 years of experience in the sports media industry and was behind Martial Combat, a promotion which ran two shows per month at Resorts World Sentosa from May to October in 2010.[8]
Cui has previously worked as a senior executive at ESPN Star Sports and the PGA Tour and has also been involved in X Games, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and many other sporting events.[9]
The first ONE show, ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion, took place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 3 September 2011 and featured Phil Baroni, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Gregor Gracie, and Eduard Folayang.
According to Cui, everyone, including his wife, told him to use a smaller venue, but he was determined to prove them wrong.[10] Since then the Singapore based promotion has held sold out events in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore,[11] secured a ten-year TV deal with ESPN Star Sports[12] and signed various fighters.
ONE Elite Agency
[edit]In November 2018, Cui launched a new global company called ONE Elite Agency. The agency manages martial arts athletes from ONE Championship, esports players, artists and musicians.
Edmonton Elks
[edit]In January 2022, Cui was named the president and CEO of the Edmonton Elks, replacing Chris Presson who was fired after the 2021 season.[13][14] Cui explained his decision to return to Edmonton to lead the team he grew up watching as "a dream come true".[14] In the team's first home game under Cui's leadership, the Elks hosted "Stand With Ukraine" night in support of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.[15]
Cui and the Elks mutually parted ways in August 2023, as the Elks were in the midst of a 22-game home losing streak that began in 2019. According to Cui, the move was made to allow him to focus on his family.[16]
Awards and recognitions
[edit]Cui has been described as "The most powerful man in Asian MMA" due to ONE's success and his relationships with other people in the industry.[17] He was one of only five candidates to be nominated for 'Leading Man of the Year' the 2012 World MMA Awards[18] and the only representative of an Asian promotion on this shortlist.
Cui's family is originally from Cebu, and he was a major awardee at the 31st SAC-SMC Cebu Sports Awards on March 17, 2013 for his work in turning ONE into the biggest MMA organization in Asia and showcasing Filipino fighters.[19]
Personal life
[edit]Cui has a black belt in Taekwondo, as does his wife, and has been a fan of Mixed Martial Arts ever since watching UFC 1.[20] He lives in Edmonton with his wife, two children and parents.[21] Cui also was a reservist in the Royal Canadian Navy.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Elks name Edmonton-born Cui president and CEO - TSN.ca". TSN. The Canadian Press. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Mixed martial arts-ONE FC returning to Manila in May". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "Asian MMA: Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Shinichi Kojima Flyweight Title bout set for ONE FC in Jakarta". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "Aoki cruises to ONE FC lightweight title". eurosport.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "Canadians play big role on Myanmar MMA card". myKawartha.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Former Albertan Victor Cui looks to build mixed martial arts circuit in Asia". Global News. June 21, 2012. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "Epsilon Alpha 2012 – 2013 Chapter History". Phi Gamma Delta.
- ^ "ONE FC CEO TOUTS 'UFC OF ASIA,' DEBUT SHOW TO STREAM ON SHERDOG". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "Victor Cui: ONE FC Will Be King of MMA in Asia". mmafighting.com. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "ONE FC's CEO Victor Cui: Pure Genius, Pure Filipino". yahoo.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "ONE FC CEO Victor Cui talks Hong Kong debut, UFC in Singapore, Fernandes vs. Aoki and more". mmamania.com. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ "ONE FC Announces Asian TV Deal with ESPN". mmaweekly.com. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Victor Cui, co-founder of MMA's One Championship, named Elks president and CEO". The Toronto Star. 2022-01-25. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ a b c "Elks announce ONE Championship's Victor Cui as new president, CEO". CTV News Edmonton. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "SIMMONS: Argos and the rest of the CFL should 'Stand With Ukraine' as the Elks are doing". Toronto Sun. June 1, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ Swensrude, Stephanie (August 15, 2023). "Victor Cui out as president and CEO of Edmonton Elks football team". Global News. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
- ^ "Cebuano most powerful MMA organizer in Asia". Philippines Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "FIGHTERS ONLY WORLD MMA AWARDS 2012: RESULTS". Fighters Only. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "World taekwondo champ, MMA promoter get award". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Promoters Circling One Another as M.M.A. Takes Root in Asia". New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Elks President and CEO Victor Cui". Edmonton Elks. Retrieved 2022-12-11.