Video: Cung Le responds to call out from viral wing chun fighter Pierre Francois Flores

Former UFC fighter Cung Le was challenged by Pierre Francois Flores, a wing chun artist who went viral after KOing a karate black-belt in Vietnam.

In July Montreal-based wing chun practitioner Pierre Francois Flores gained notoriety after footage of him fighting a karate black-belt in Vietnam went viral. That video showed a much larger and somewhat younger Flores violently knocking out Đoàn Bảo Chau with a head kick followed by a punch.

Chau had invited Flores to Vietnam for what he called a friendly “martial art exchange.” On Facebook Flores then released images of he and Chau dining after the fight. The caption accompanying the image saluted Chau as a martial artist.

Other videos on YouTube show that Flores had engaged in street fights with at least one other man while in Vietnam. One of these videos (uploaded by tao nè) shows Flores fighting another smaller and older looking individual.

On YouTube there are other videos of Flores fighting in Vietnam. One of these videos (uploaded by Du lịch ATK) is labeled as occurring in 2009. That video sees Flores fight a man who appears to be of a more similar age and size.

Another video (posted by Ti Vi Cận Cảnh) shows Flores fighting a man along a riverbank. In this fight Flores is eventually floored by his opponent. The video does not contain any information regarding when the fight took place.

Previously it was reported that Flores was interested in fighting Xu Xiaodong, a Chinese mixed martial artist who went viral himself after footage emerged of him fighting a tai chi master in Chengdu. After that fight Xu - who claimed that tai chi and similar martial arts were a ‘sham’ - sent out an online challenge all traditional martial artists to fight him for a cash reward. However, Xu’s posts - and others discussing the challenge - were mysteriously removed from leading Chinese social media site Weibo (a platform known for government censorship).

In addition to Xu, it appears that Flores has set his sights on another mixed martial arts fighter; former Strikeforce middleweight champion and UFC veteran Cung Le. On July 21st Flores wrote the following on Facebook:

To the attention of Cung Le

I have read the challenge that you made through [the] media.

What victory and value can you get from someone who just fights against old people? Some one who is not at your level?

Cung Le, you spoke without though [sic] before? You did not know how the fight has happened and you did not read the thousands [of] comments [from] the young people who follow us from the beginning.

You choose the wrong side to protect Huynh Tuan Kiet and his pathetic scams.

By this act, you betrayed the ethic code of martial arts [practitioners]. Therefore I accept your challenge with the following terms of fight: no gloves, no protection, and no withhold [sic] and not [in a] ring.

Because between you and me, it would be not a technical exchange but a fight between the good and the bad.

For 20 years, I have followed the Path, under the lead of an old Vietnamese master and I had integrated the Vietnamese people’s spirit with its courage and the respect of itself.

I am available,

Nam Ngu (Flores)

On both his official website and a Facebook Live stream Cung Le responded to Flores’ comments. In the video Le is asked by a fan how Flores would fare in MMA (around the 22 minute mark).

“He wouldn’t even last in an amateur tournament, sorry but that’s the truth,” said Le. “There’s three fights out there on YouTube of the guy. One of them, he fights someone his own age, his own size, and you guys should look it up. It was not good.”

“You guys bring that dude up so much!” continued Le. “That’s what he wants. He goes to Vietnam to challenge people... maybe the guy’s fake, maybe the guy... you know, but just imagine how many young people there are upset about him being fake and so they’re going to be talking about him. And why would someone go and challenge in today’s age? I think you watched too many Kung Fu movies or something.”

A longer statement on CungLeOfficial.com read:

To my Fans and Fellow Martial Artists:

Recently, it has come to a point where I wish to clarify any confusion in the media regarding myself and a Mr. Flores who has touted that I have “challenged” him. In fact, I do not know Mr. Flores or the Master Kiet he appears to be fascinated with. Therefore, I cannot comment on their disagreement or the legitimacy of their Martial Arts techniques or systems. I did however state in several different ways that Mr. Flores is using the platform of Martial Arts to bully. Period. I disagree with his tactics, disrespect, assumptions and blatant disregard of the Principles of Martial Arts. Martial Arts is a lifestyle comprised of aggressive, violent and sometimes lethal techniques. The flip side is using your intelligence to qualify the restraint, respect and use of those hard earned skills. Everyday I try to empty my cup and evolve into a more well rounded Martial Artist. No one is above defeat in a fight … but defeat does not mean failure … it is what you do with that lesson. I have always said “I win like a champion and I lose like a champion.”

To the valuable and impressionable young martial artists in our community, be respectful but constantly evolve. Ultimately, you are your own Master … and never forget to Honor those who have helped pave the road you are on. If you believe something can be taught better, then teach it to your fellow Martial Artists. Stay hungry for more but humble.

I would like to thank all my Fans! I love you and appreciate all your support. I will continue to grow in my own Martial Art’s walk and hope my evolution helps yours."

Cung Le’s last professional MMA fight was against current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping on August 23rd, 2014 during the main event of UFC Fight Night 48 in Macau, China. In that contest Le was stopped via TKO in the fourth round. That fight dropped Le to 9-3 in a pro career that includes wins over Rich Franklin, Patrick Cote, and Frank Shamrock.

Now retired from MMA, Le is currently working as an actor. Between 2015 and 2017 he appeared in four episodes of the AMC series ‘Into the Badlands’. He is currently filming a movie called ‘Europe Raiders’ in which he plays a character named Black Mantis.