Founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explains ONE Championship’s imaginative and prescient and international growth, the ‘Olympics of Martial Arts’, in addition to his must-see fighters; Watch the primary ONE Championship occasion on Sky Sports activities Combine from 1 am on Saturday morning
Of John Dennen, sports activities journalist
7:07 UK Saturday 13 January 2024
ONE Championship begins on Sky Sports activities this weekend, with Britain’s Liam Nolan preventing on the highest card of the Shamil Gasanov vs. Oh Ho Taek MMA featherweight showdown.
Watch the primary One Championship occasion on Sky Sports activities Combine from 1 am on Saturday morning.
Thought-about the largest martial arts platform on the planet, ONE Championship occasions function completely different disciplines akin to combined martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai and extra, with world titles in every of their completely different sports activities.
Saturday morning’s draft consists of a wide range of MMA and Muay Thai kickboxing contests, with Nolan taking up Ali Aliev in a light-weight Muay Thai match.
“The perfect of one of the best”
ONE Founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong defined, “The way in which we consider ourselves, aside from the martial arts home, is the martial arts Olympics.
“On the Olympics, you have got a number of disciplines, a number of sports activities, and the entire world stops to look at one of the best of one of the best compete. There isn’t a distinction in that. We’ve got one of the best of one of the best martial arts on the planet.
“Each week you watch the martial arts Olympics and the best factor as a fan is that you simply get to expertise completely different martial arts, completely different disciplines, completely different tales, however you are watching one of the best of one of the best on the planet. “
Watch a number of the coolest knockouts seen in ONE Championship earlier than it airs on January 13 stay on Sky Sports activities Combine from 1am.
The biggest martial arts group on the earth
Nicely established in Asia, ONE Championship continues to develop globally.
“Nielsen launched a world report on the sports activities property trade a 12 months and a half in the past. We have been shocked, however when it comes to viewers and engagement metrics throughout TV and digital and social platforms, we ranked greater than the UFC when it comes to precise measurement. The UFC is the world’s largest MMA group, it solely focuses on one martial artwork, which is combined martial arts. We’re the largest martial arts group on the earth, now we have a number of disciplines,” mentioned Sityodtong.
The UFC is among the most well-known entities on the earth of fight sports activities. However ONE, its founder insists, could be very completely different.
“The one factor now we have in frequent with the UFC is that we each have one of the best rosters on the planet,” Sityodtong mentioned. “We’re each giants in our respective hemispheres.
“UFC is targeted on MMA, we’re targeted on all martial arts, all completely different disciplines. However one of the best of one of the best on the planet, whether or not it is placing or grappling or combined martial arts.
“We deal with the martial arts ethos. I’m a lifelong martial artist because the founder. I’ve been doing Muay Thai for nearly 40 years and Brazilian Jiujitsu for about 14 years and I wish to signify actual, genuine martial arts. from the house of martial arts right here in Asia.
Take a look at a number of the weirdest moments which have occurred in ONE Championship historical past!
“I can struggle and really feel very assured within the bodily realm – however what martial arts actually teaches you’re the unimaginable values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, braveness, self-discipline, compassion and a lot extra,” he continued.
“That is why thousands and thousands of oldsters all over the world and within the UK ship their kids to martial arts colleges. It is for them to be taught these unimaginable values and self-discipline and humility and work ethic and all these superb issues that they wish to go on and that is what we’re introducing.
“The UFC and ONE have arguably the 2 finest rosters on the planet, clearly I’d argue that our roster is best than the UFC’s, the truth is many martial arts consultants would agree with me. However the actual distinction comes within the ethos.
“We are the Olympics of martial arts if you’ll.”
Who ought to I observe?
British fighters are making inroads into One Championship.
Jonathan Haggerty had an incredible 12 months in 2023, turning into a two-sport world champion when he received the Muay Thai and bantamweight kickboxing titles.
He’ll defend his Muay Thai Championship on February 17, stay Sky Sports activities.
“He is a phenomenon. He actually is one of the best striker within the UK for the time being. However extra importantly, most likely among the finest pound-for-pound strikers in any martial artwork on the earth,” Sityodtong mentioned.
“Should you go on his Instagram web page and take a look at the best way he hits the heavy bag or the pads, it is a uncommon expertise.
“He is overwhelmed some legendary names, actually, actually powerful people who no person thought he might beat, and he is been on high of the world in two completely different sports activities. I believe you are going to see him reign for a very long time.”
One other UK kickboxer Liam Nolan will likely be in motion on Sky Sports activitiesThe primary One Championship present, stay from 1:00 Sky Sports activities Combine Saturday.
Liam Harrison is a extremely rated, action-packed fighter. “You could have legends like Liam Harrison who’ve been across the block and actually represented Britain all over the world. A pure knockout artist, kill or be killed, his fashion. There are quite a lot of thrilling fighters,” remarked the ONE founder.
Worldwide stars to look at embody Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Demetrius Johnson.
“I believe the UK followers are going to utterly love Rodtang, he’s no doubt the best striker on the planet pound for pound. Large KO energy, huge coronary heart, super-exciting fashion,” mentioned Sityodtong.
“In combined martial arts, clearly, now we have the GOAT [greatest of all-time], in Demetrius Johnson. I believe UK followers will love GOAT.”
The promotion has motion fighters. “Our fighters are one of the best they usually come to complete,” Sityodtong mentioned. “Our completion charge as a corporation is round 70%.
“Our wrestlers are one of the best of one of the best on the planet they usually come to complete fights, so it is very, very thrilling.
“These are family names within the martial arts world. These are the royalty, if you’ll, of martial arts. It does not matter what self-discipline you observe. You are in for a deal with.”
What occurs
The primary present of ONE Championship Sky Sports activities takes place within the early hours of Saturday UK time.
Watch the cardboard with Gasanov vs Oh, Nolan vs Aliev and extra from 1am Sky Sports activities Combine.
Jonathan Haggerty will do his Sky Sports activities debut when he places his ONE Muay Thai world bantamweight title on the road in opposition to Felipe Lobo. That will likely be within the early hours of the morning on February 17th.