ONE Championship News
Eddie Alvarez argues against UFC title shots for Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - December 19, 2019
Eddie Alvarez isn’t a big fan of way the UFC is handing out title shots these days. Specifically, the current ONE Championship lightweight contender is against potential title shots for Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. Aldo, who is the former UFC featherweight champion, made his debut in the bantamweight division at UFC 245, losing a controversial decision to Alvarez’s teammate Marlon Moraes. Despite this loss, he’s been targeted by UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo, and UFC President Dana White seems interested in booking a title fight between the two.
Eddie Alvarez outlines the difference between ONE Championship and the UFC
Tom Taylor - December 19, 2019
Eddie Alvarez is now one year and two fights into his ONE Championship career. From the sounds of it, the former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion has enjoyed his time with the Singapore-based promotion. Alvarez discussed his time with ONE Championship, and how it differs from his time with the UFC, at Wednesday’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.
Honorio Banario looks back at year of losses as year of learning
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 17, 2019
Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario has a few realizations as the year comes to a close. The 30-year-old competed thrice this year but unfortunately, he came up short in all three bouts. Banario, a seasoned veteran, took these losses as lessons that would help him reclaim victory the next time he enters the ring.
Possible opponents for Vitor Belfort's ONE Championship debut
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 10, 2019
Vitor Belfort is already a legend. Throughout his career, Belfort had broken barriers and reinvented himself. He’s gone from being a brawler who specialized in disposing of his opponents as quickly as possible to a more well-rounded athlete capable of submitting his foes as well as knocking them out.
Ryuto Sawada left wrestling to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 4, 2019
Ever since Ryuto Sawada stepped into the ONE Championship ring last year, he has claimed nothing but victories. Sawada won all three of his matches since his promotional debut. Now, Sawada is aiming to continue his winning streak against South African Bokang Masunyane at ONE: Mark of Greatness. The two go head-to-head at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 6 December.
Jihin Radzuan is determined to make a statement against Denice Zamboanga
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019
In her first two years on the ONE Championship roster, Malaysia’s Jihin Radzuan has turned in thrilling performances in all of her bouts. She owns a professional record of five wins with only one loss, including two wins by submission and one by knockout. This Friday, 6 December, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Radzuan returns to action at ONE: Mark of Greatness opposite the Philippines’ Denice “The Fairtex Menace” Zamboanga.
Alaverdi Ramazanov is laser-focused on capturing the ONE title
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019
Like many other athletes, 25-year-old Alaverdi Ramazanov dreams of becoming a World Champion. In just a few days, that dream will be within his reach. The only man standing in his way is China’s Zhang Chenglong, whom he will face on December 6 for the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao excited to try his hand at kickboxing
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 2, 2019
Muay Thai legend and former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is no stranger to making history. In fact, he’s captured many world titles and garnered multiple accolades throughout his glorious career. Sam-A is looking to add another feather in his cap this Friday night, 6 December when he faces Wang Junguang for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship. The two square off in one of two headlining bouts at ONE: Mark of Greatness, to be held at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sage Northcutt to drop down two weight classes
Tom Taylor - November 22, 2019
Weight classes work a little differently in ONE Championship, where extreme weight-cutting is not allowed. ONE’s welterweight division 185 lbs, not 170 lbs. It’s lightweight division is 170 lbs, not 155. And so on. This occasionally means fighters wind up in the cage with bigger opposition. Sage Northcutt certainly had that problem in his ONE debut. Northcutt made his ONE debut in the welterweight division — 185 pounds. In this debut, he was obliterated by destructive kickboxer Cosmo Alexandre. The loss left him with significant facial damage that required intensive surgery to repair.
ONE: Edge of Greatness - What's at stake?
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 21, 2019
Whenever the Singapore-based ONE Championship heads back to its home country, the event is a huge deal. The upcoming ONE: Edge of Greatness card will continue the long tradition of high-profile ONE events in Singapore. It takes place on 22 November at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The headline bout is a battle between ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao taking on his countryman Saemapetch Fairtex.
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao brings unique style to the ONE Championship ring
BJPENN.COM Staff - November 21, 2019
Once an athlete reaches the pinnacle of their sport, they can become content with remaining the same. That is not the case for reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.
ONE Championship pays tribute to retired Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - November 19, 2019
Ben Askren announced his retirement on Monday afternoon, and he’s been receiving love from the MMA community ever since. He even got a nice tribute from ONE Championship, the organization that famously traded him to the UFC for Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in 2018. See how ONE Championship sent Ben Askren off into retirement below: