ONE Championship News
Demetrious Johnson: UFC fighters that call me out are "building my brand"
Tom Taylor - August 5, 2020
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is now firmly embedded as a member of the ONE Championship roster, but he’s still routinely called out by UFC fighters. Most recently, Johnson was called out by Deiveson Figueiredo, who captured the vacant UFC flyweight title with a win over Joseph Benavidez in July.
Manager: Usman Nurmagomedov is "a better version" of cousin Khabib
Tom Taylor - August 4, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz, the CEO of MMA management firm Dominance MMA, says that undefeated lightweight prospect Usman Nurmagomedov is even better than his cousin, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Speaking to Andy Whitelaw of Asian MMA, Abdelaziz was asked to identify the brightest prospects he currently represents—prospects like Khamzat Chimaev, who recently burst into the limelight in the UFC.
Ali Abdelaziz on partnership with ONE Championship: 'This is going to be good for everybody'
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Earlier this week, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced a new partnership with MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz and his company, Dominance MMA. Abdelaziz and Sityodtong were first introduced through their mutual friend, Renzo Gracie, but only recently began working together. Both agree the relationship is long overdue.
Vitor Belfort says Wanderlei Silva deserves a "beating"
Adam Martin - July 30, 2020
MMA legend Vitor Belfort once again called out his long-time rival Wanderlei Silva, saying his fellow Brazilian deserves a “beating.” Two of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Belfort and Silva first met almost 22 years ago, back at UFC Brazil in October 1998. In one of the greatest knockouts of all time, the young phenom Belfort blitzed Silva and finished him in just 44 seconds in what is still one of the most stunning, brutal, and violent finishes we’ve ever seen in mixed martial arts.
PFL hires former ONE Championship executive Loren Mack as VP of Corporate Communications
Tom Taylor - July 28, 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has named Loren Mack Vice President of Corporate Communications. Mack, with over 15 years of experience in media and sports, becomes the latest hire to join a growing list of top sports, media and entertainment executives for the first organization to present Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through a Regular Season, Playoff and Championship format.
Rodtang Jitmuangnon excited to complete trilogy with Petchdam on July 31
Tom Taylor - July 24, 2020
ONE Championship returns to Bangkok, Thailand, with ONE: NO Surrender on Friday, July 31. Headlining the promotion’s return card will be a trilogy bout for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Petchdam Petchyindee Academy. Prior to joining the organization, the Thai strikers met at the world-famous Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok twice – Petchdam took the first meeting by decision in 2017, and Rodtang evened the score a year later.
Petchdam exudes confidence ahead of ONE Championship showdown with Rodtang
Tom Taylor - July 23, 2020
Petchdam Petchyindee Academy knows his shot at Rodtang Jitmuangnon and the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE: No Surrender is a golden opportunity. The always exciting Thai, who will look to settle the score with his former foe on July 31 in Bangkok, Thailand, is grateful that he can get back to work following of inactivity due to COVID-19.
ONE Championship announces 10 events, starting on July 31
Tom Taylor - July 13, 2020
ONE Championship is set to return from its coronavirus-related hiatus with a procession of 10 events, starting on July 31. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced the organization’s comeback plans on Facebook on Monday morning.
Aung La N Sang tests positive for COVID-19
Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020
ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight champion Aung La N Sang has tested positive for COVID-19. Aung La announced his positive test on Instagram on Thursday evening, adding that he and his wife and two children will now self-isolate for 14 days in their South Florida home.
VIDEO | Vitor Belfort in phenomenal shape ahead of ONE Championship debut
Tom Taylor - July 1, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort looks to be in truly phenomenal shape ahead of his debut with ONE Championship. Belfort has not fought since he was knocked out by Lyoto Machida in the final bout of his UFC career in 2018. Shortly thereafter, he signed with ONE Championship. He was expected to make his debut with the promotion opposite Alain Ngalani earlier this year, but that plan was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Eddie Alvarez discusses how fighters can avoid becoming "a slave to a promotion"
Harry Kettle - June 29, 2020
ONE Championship star Eddie Alvarez has spoken out about how fighters can avoid becoming a “slave” to MMA promotions. While the subject of fighter pay has always been a hot topic in mixed martial arts, the current pandemic really does seem to have magnified the issue — both in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and beyond.
ONE Championship announces return on July 31 in Bangkok, Thailand
Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020
After a brief hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, ONE Championship has announced that it will return to our screens with an event in Bangkok, Thailand on July 31. ONE recently promoted a pair of ONE Hero Series of events in Shanghai, China, but the bouts did not air outside the country. This Bangkok event will be broadcast globally.