ONE Championship News

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 18, 2019

For years now, the Philippines and ONE Championship, the top martial arts organization in Asia, have put on some fantastic events. The next event to be staged in Manila is ONE: Dawn of Heroes on 2 August. The stakes are high as the card is packed with title bouts and essential matches in several weight classes. Here are five athletes with the most to lose at ONE: Dawn of Heroes.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 17, 2019

Yielding different results in their respective debuts on 31 March in Tokyo Japan at ONE: A NEW ERA, Demetrious Johnson, and Eddie Alvarez have a few things to tweak as they get acclimated to a new promotion. Once again, Johnson and Alvarez will compete on the same card when they battle Tatsumitsu Wada and Eduard Folayang, respectively, at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on 2 August at the Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines. 

Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019

Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is back in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. After being eliminated from the tournament by Timofey Nastyukhin in March, Alvarez has re-entered the field as Nastyukhin has been forced to withdraw from the semifinals with an injury.

Cole Shelton - July 12, 2019

After Vitor Belfort was knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 224, the former champion announced his retirement from the sport. But, after a year away from MMA it was announced in late February that the 42-year-old had signed with ONE Championship. Since then, there has been little to no talk about when Belfort will make his debut. He did ask for a fight with Roy Jones Jr. However, the veteran still awaits a fight in the Asian-based promotion. When he does indeed fight, ‘The Phenom’ wants UFC commentator, Joe Rogan in his corner.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 11, 2019

Multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Michelle Nicolini has been waiting for her name to be called since her last bout back in November of 2018. On 12 July, she makes her highly-anticipated return in the co-main event of ONE: Masters of Destiny at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nicolini’s first ONE Championship test for 2019 comes in the form of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion and former ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title challenger Angela “Unstoppable” Lee of Singapore.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 11, 2019

There will be three different combat sports on display at ONE: Masters of Destiny on 12 July at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but each bout could potentially end in a  knockout. Here is a look at the most prolific knockout artists competing on the ONE Championship card. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 11, 2019

Malaysian women’s atomweight contender Jihin Radzuan — known by the nickname “Shadowcat” — will be defending her home country’s pride against the Philippines’ Jomary Torres at ONE: Masters of Destiny this coming Friday, July 12 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Apart from an impressive 4-1 professional record, the up-and-coming Malaysian prospect is also the owner of one of the more unique monikers in mixed martial arts, and it is something that has made fellow athletes and fans quite curious.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 10, 2019

Filipina mixed martial artist Jomary Torres returns to action on July 12 at ONE: Masters of Destiny as she faces MIMMA Women’s Champion and Malaysia’s own Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. There’s a lot at stake for Torres who has lost her last three bouts after a stellar start with ONE Championship, and now as she prepares for one of the most important matches of her career, she reflects back to her humble beginnings and the reason why she took up the sport.

BJPENN.COM Staff - July 10, 2019

Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy hopes to continue reaping international success at ONE: Masters of Destiny on July 12 against WMC Muay Thai World Champion George Mann. The Thai-native, who returns to action at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, revealed he is excited to be competing in Muay Thai again in ONE Championship.

Thomas Taylor - July 9, 2019

Over the weekend, former ONE Championship welterweight king Ben Askren experienced his first professional loss, succumbing to a flying knee just five seconds into a UFC 239 bout with Jorge Masvidal. Speaking on Facebook on Tuesday, ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shared his take on the former ONE Champ’s first taste of defeat.

Tom Taylor - July 9, 2019

Shortly after John Lineker announced that he has signed with ONE Championship, he set his sights on two of the Singapore-based promotion’s brightest shining stars: flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson and bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes. “He’s an excellent athlete, a great fighter, but I’m coming,” Lineker told MMA Fighting of the bantamweight champ Fernandes. “I want to do my best in there and put on a show for the fans. Bibiano is a great athlete, has a good ground game and heavy hands, but I’m going there to give them a show.”

Adam Martin - July 9, 2019

It didn’t take long for John Lineker to feel comfortable in his new home. Just one day after signing with ONE Championship, Lineker called out Demetrious Johnson for a superfight. “If they want to make this superfight, I’m here. I’m here to fight him. It’s going to be the opportunity that I didn’t have before. Finally,” Lineker told MMAFighting.com.