On February 14 at 19:00, the Eurasian Professional Sanda League returns to Georgia with a six-bout international fight card featuring athletes from five countries. European Wushu Television spoke with the Georgian National Wushu Federation about the origins, ambitions, and future of Europe's only professional sanda competition.

Born Out of Necessity

The Eurasian Professional Sanda League was not created as a vanity project. It was born four years ago from a simple problem: there were no commercial sanda competitions anywhere in Europe.

"For many years there had been no commercial sanda competitions in Europe," the Georgian National Wushu Federation told European Wushu Television. "Athletes needed professional tournaments where they could earn prize money. In our league, we provide financial rewards not only to the winners but also to the runners-up," says Secretary General of the Georgian Wushu National Federation - Giorgi Verulidze.

The first competition was held in 2023. Since then, the league has grown steadily, and the federation says the standard has risen with it.

"The level of athletes has risen significantly, and we have elevated the standard of competition. We are ready to host this tournament for the next 2–3 years as well."

Why Georgia?

The choice of Georgia as a permanent home is no accident. The federation points to both geography and institutional backing.

"Georgia is the gateway between Europe and Asia, making it a convenient location for both regions. In addition, the Ministry of Sport of Georgia provides financial support, and according to the official calendar plan, the starting budget is guaranteed."

The Georgian National Wushu Federation has deep experience hosting international events - including the European Wushu Championship in 2017 and the annual Batumi International Wushu Open, which regularly draws over 200 athletes from 10 countries. That infrastructure and know-how makes the logistics manageable.

"When athletes are offered prize money, and their airfare, hotel with three meals, and local transportation are covered, coordination is not difficult," the federation says.

Georgia's national sanda team also provides the talent base. At the 19th European Wushu Championships in Stockholm, Sweden (May 2024), the Georgian team delivered a remarkable performance: Saba Butkhuzi and Davit Nazarov won gold medals, Alexander Kuchava took silver, and Nicholas Maskhulia and Nika Bagishvili earned bronze. Three of those European medalists - Kuchava, Maskhulia, and Bagishvili - will compete on February 14.

Championship Belts, Prize Money, and an Open Door to Other Combat Sports

The league currently features four champions across five weight categories. Winners receive both prize money and a championship belt - a format designed to give sanda the same professional prestige as other combat sports.

But the federation acknowledges a broader ambition: attracting fighters from outside the sanda world.

"For sanda, it is a challenge to attract fighters from other combat sports and for professional sanda athletes to showcase their high level," the federation says. "It would be ideal for sanda athletes to earn these prizes, but we do not exclude the possibility of inviting athletes from other disciplines in the future. This decision rests with the federation's board."

That crossover potential is already visible on this card. Ramini Feradze, who faces European bronze medalist Nicholas Maskhulia in an all-Georgian bout, is a dual-sport athlete competing in both sanda and amateur MMA. His MMA record stands at 4-1-0, and he is ranked #27 Amateur Welterweight in Eurasia. He competed at the IMMAF World Championships 2025 (Juniors) in Tbilisi.

Broadcasting and the Sponsorship Challenge

Every edition of the league has been broadcast via live stream on the federation's YouTube channel and the upcoming event will be streamed on euwushu.tv. But the federation is candid about the limitations.

"With television coverage, the Eurasian Professional Sanda League will become even more popular. To grow the audience abroad, significant investment in advertising is required. Since we do not have an official sponsor, we have not yet been able to expand viewership beyond Georgia."

The event currently operates without ticket sales - spectators from different federations are invited - and without a permanent sponsor. Finding that commercial backing is the key to unlocking the league's next phase of growth.

Eurasian Professional Sanda League will be streamed live and for free on February 14 on www.euwushu.tv