Current season, competition or edition: 2026 in ONE Championship | |
 | |
| Sport | Combat sports |
|---|---|
| Founded | 14 July 2011; 14 years ago (14 July 2011) |
| Owner | Group One Holdings Pte. Ltd. |
| CEO | Chatri Sityodtong (Chairman andCEO) |
| Director | Saurabh Mittal (Vice Chairman) Hua Fung Teh (GroupPresident) Jesley Chua (CFO) Rich Franklin (VP) Matt Hume (SVP of Competition) |
| Headquarters | 3 Fraser Street, #14-24Singapore 189352[1] |
| Official website | onefc.com |
ONE Championship, formerlyONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is amultinationalcombat sportspromotion founded on 14 July 2011 byChatri Sityodtong andVictor Cui.[2] Originally focused onmixed martial arts (MMA), ONE events have since incorporatedmuay thai,kickboxing, andsubmission grappling bouts. The promotion held its first event on 3 September 2011 at theSingapore Indoor Stadium, and has since heldover 200 events across Asia.[3] In 2022, parent company One Group Holdings, changed its legal operations from Singapore to theCayman Islands.[4][5][6]
EntrepreneurChatri Sityodtong founded One Fighting Championship (ONE FC) in July 2011 to unite Asia through martial arts, leveraging Singapore's infrastructure.[7] The promotion debuted on 3 September 2011 withONE FC: Champion vs. Champion, selling out theSingapore Indoor Stadium.[8] Key milestones included the first female MMA bout in March 2012[9] and the crowning of inaugural champions in bantamweight (Soo Chul Kim), lightweight (Kotetsu Boku), featherweight (Honorio Banario), welterweight (Nobutatsu Suzuki), flyweight (Adriano Moraes), and middleweight (Igor Svirid) divisions between 2012 and 2014.[10][11][12][13][14]
Rebranded as ONE Championship in 2015,[15] the promotion expanded into new disciplines and markets. It introduced the strawweight title (Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, 2015),[16] hosted its firstLethwei bout (2015),[17] and crowned heavyweight (Brandon Vera, 2015),[18] light heavyweight (Roger Gracie, 2016),[19] and women's atomweight (Angela Lee, 2016) champions.[20] A historic 2018 trade with the UFC exchangedBen Askren forDemetrious Johnson.[21] The promotion also launched Muay Thai (Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, 2018)[22] and kickboxing titles (Kai Ting Chuang, 2018),[23] and hosted its sole boxing match (Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. Iran Diaz, 2018).[24]
ONE raised 150 million in 2021, reaching a 1.35 billion valuation,[4][5] and relocated to the Cayman Islands in 2022. It expanded into submission grappling (Mikey Musumeci, 2022)[26] and debuted in the U.S. withONE Fight Night 10 (2023).[27] Notable milestones includedSmilla Sundell becoming the youngest champion (17) in 2022[28] and a 2023 agreement to host events in Qatar.[29]
ONE Championship is operated by Group ONE Holdings, led by chairman/CEOChatri Sityodtong, vice chairmanSaurabh Mittal, president Hua Fung Teh, and CFO Jesley Chua.[30] Matchmaking is overseen by VP of OperationsMatt Hume, while former UFC championRich Franklin serves as a vice president.[31] Key referees include Olivier Coste (MMA) and Elias Dolaptsis (Muay Thai/Kickboxing), with Dom Lau as ring announcer. English broadcasts feature commentators Mitch Chilson, Ray Flores, Brent Stover,[32] and Rich Franklin,[33] alongside guest analysts likeBas Rutten andRenzo Gracie. Former commentatorMichael Schiavello departed in 2017.[34][35][better source needed]
Former co-founderVictor Cui left in 2022 to lead theEdmonton Elks,[36] while ex-UFC championMiesha Tate served as vice president from 2018 until her 2021 return to fighting.[37]
Broadcast PartnershipsONE events air globally via networks likeVidio,Indosiar, andNET. in Indonesia;[38]MediaCorp Channel 5 (Singapore);TV5/One Sports (Philippines);[39]Workpoint TV/Channel 7 (Thailand); andAbemaTV (Japan). A 10-year deal withESPN Star Sports began in 2012,[40] with later agreements includingTurner Sports (2018–2021 U.S. coverage onB/R Live/TNT),[41]Amazon Prime Video (2022–2027 U.S./Canada rights),[42]beIN Sports (2022 MENA expansion),[43]Seven Network (2023 Australia via7plus),[44] andSky Sports (2023 UK/Ireland).[45] Events also stream live on YouTube and Facebook Watch in select regions.[46]
In August 2022, ONE Championship announced ananti-doping partnership withInternational Doping Tests & Management, a subsidiary of Drug Free Sport International, who will independently handle all testing of its fighters for "illegal substances", beginning withONE 160 that month. Although the organization planned to introduceWorld Anti-Doping Agency standard testing in 2019, prior to its partnership withInternational Doping Tests & Management, ONE had not publicly drug-tested its athletes.[47]
ONE Championship employs distinct rule sets across its disciplines:
Using the Global Martial Arts Rule Set,[48] bouts feature 4-ounce MMA gloves. Non-title fights have three 5-minute rounds; title fights extend to five rounds. Victory methods include KO, submission, verbal tapout, TKO, disqualification, or judges' decision. Judges prioritize near-finishes, damage, striking/control, takedowns, and aggression.[48]
Illegal actions include strikes to the groin, throat, spine, or back of the head/neck, head stomps, small joint manipulation, and spiking takedowns.[49] Soccer kicks to grounded opponents, initially permitted under PRIDE-inspired rules,[50] were banned in 2016 due to reputational concerns.[51]
Governed by Global Kickboxing/Muay Thai Rule Sets,[48] glove sizes vary by weight (8-oz for ≤65.8kg in kickboxing; 4-oz for Muay Thai). Muay Thai permits elbows, clinches, sweeps, and throws.[52] Matches are 3–5 rounds (3 minutes each). Wins occur via KO (including throws in Muay Thai), TKO (4 total/3 round knockdowns), decision, or disqualification. Judges use the 10-point must system, prioritizing knockdowns, damage, clean strikes, and aggression.[48]
Under the Global Submission Grappling Rule Set,[48] matches are a single 10-minute round. Victories come via submission, verbal tapout, or referee/corner stoppage. Judges decide based on submission attempts ("catches"); aggression breaks ties. Yellow cards penalize stalling, restricting offenders to submission-only wins.[48] Pre-May 2022, matches required submissions for victory, with draws after 12 minutes.[53]
ONE Championship currently uses ten different weight classes:[54]
| Weight class name | Upper limit | Gender | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inpounds (lb) | inkilograms (kg) | instone (st) | ||
| Atomweight | 115 | 52.2 | 8.2 | Female |
| Strawweight | 125 | 56.7 | 8.9 | Male / Female |
| Flyweight | 135 | 61.2 | 9.6 | Male / Female |
| Bantamweight | 145 | 65.8 | 10.4 | Male / Female |
| Featherweight | 155 | 70.3 | 11.1 | Male |
| Lightweight | 170 | 77.1 | 12.1 | Male |
| Welterweight | 185 | 83.9 | 13.2 | Male |
| Middleweight | 205 | 93 | 14.6 | Male |
| Light Heavyweight | 225 | 102.1 | 16.1 | Male |
| Heavyweight | 265[a] | 120.2 | 18.9 | Male |
ONE weigh-ins include a hydration test.
The change took place after the death of 21-year-old Chinese fighter, Yang Jian Bing (who was supposed to face Geje Eustaquio) on 11 December 2015, due to dehydration by weight-cutting in the Philippines.[55]
The promotion banned weight-cutting by dehydration in order to promote fighter safety.[56] The promotion's revised policy on weight mandated that athletes are monitored in their training camps, and have urine specific gravity tests to ensure they are hydrated up to three hours ahead of their bouts.
The new system was well received by athletes in the organization,[57][58] as well as other stakeholders in the MMA industry.[59]
However, in recent years, this system has been met with criticism after fighters failed hydration but then missed weight after making hydration, resulting in stripped titles and canceled fights.[60]
In November 2017, it was announced that ONE VP Rich Franklin would head up a competition called theONE Warrior Series, searching for up-and-coming martial artists in Asia. The prize is a six-figure contract with the organization, with the winner determined based on their performance instead of victories.[61] The most recent edition of the ONE Warrior series in its initial format wasONE Warrior Series 10, which aired on February 19, 2020.
On September 12, 2022, ONE Warrior Series made a brief return as a reality television show titledONE Warrior Series: Philippines. The show featured 16 mixed martial arts fighters in the Philippines competing for a $100,000 contract to compete in ONE Championship. Team Lakay membersJoshua Pacio and Geje Eustaquio were featured on the show as coaches. The show premiered on September 18, 2022 and featured 12 episodes.[62][63]
On February 12, 2018, ONE Championship announced the establishment of theONE Super Series, which would featurekickboxing andMuay Thai bouts.[64] The first event that featured bouts under Muay Thai and kickboxing rules wasONE: Heroes of Honor in Manila on 20 April 2018.[65] The promotion signed notable names such asGiorgio Petrosyan,Nong-O Gaiyanghadao andFabio Pinca to feature on the bill. Since the inception of ONE Super Series, some events have used a five-roped ring, instead of the ONE circular cage, which had been used exclusively up until 2018. The ONE Super Series kickboxing bouts adopt theoriental ruleset.[66] As of 2020, ONE Super Series kickboxing bouts useboxing gloves. In ONE Super Series Muay Thai bouts, open-finger 4 oz gloves are used.[67] The first ONE event to consist entirely of ONE Super Series contests wasONE Championship: Immortal Triumph in Ho Chi Minh City on 6 September 2019.[68]
On 13 February 2020, ONE announced the launch of the "Infinity" series, events consisting of at least three championship fights and a minimum of 12 world champions.[69]
In September 2022, ONE announced a partnership with theRoyal Thai Army to hold at least 52 shows in 2023 at theLumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The weekly events started withONE Friday Fights 1 on 20 January 2023, where Nong-O Gaiyanghadao successfully defended his bantamweight Muay Thai title with a TKO of Alaverdi Ramazanov in the third round. The event finished as the most-watched show in prime time in Thailand, with a 3.9 rating among males 15 years old and over, according to data collected by Nielsen. It was broadcast locally on Thailand'sChannel 7.[70] The event predominately features Muay Thai, but also includes MMA and kickboxing bouts. They are broadcast live in 154 countries, and reportedly offer the highest purses in Muay Thai history.[71][72]
In May 2022, Sityodtong stated ONE Championship had 600 fighters in the organization.[73]
Fighter salaries in Asia are not publicly disclosed so information about ONE FC's fighter purses is not in the public domain. However, in January 2014 Ben Askren revealed that he was being paid a minimum of US$50,000 per fight as well as a US$50,000 win bonus.[74] This was also the same amount Adriano Moraes made in his first fight against Demetrious Johnson. Following a legal dispute with his management team, Moraes signed a new contract that saw him making US$100,000 to show and US$100,000 to win, as well as a US$250,000 flat fee as champion and a US$10,000 monthly salary over two years.[75]
Some fighter purses have been reportedly low as US$1,300 with a win bonus US$1,300, which was the amount received by Kyrgyzstani MMA fighter Anelya Toktogonov in her fight on ONE Friday Fights.[76]
A cash bonus known as the "ONE Warrior bonus" was introduced on 9 July 2014 and implemented for the first time atONE Fighting Championship: War of Dragons on 11 July 2014.
An award of US$50,000 is given out at the end of certain events to the fighter who impresses the most in terms of:"[77]
The "ONE Warrior bonus" of $50,000 was re-introduced in January 2022, with a minimum of one bonus and a maximum of five bonuses awarded at each event.[78]
The rankings for ONE Championship's fighters are both recorded and updated when information has been obtained from the official promotion website.[79]
| Division | Champion | Since | Ref. | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed martial arts | ||||
| Heavyweight 265 lb (120.2 kg) |  Oumar Kane | Nov 9, 2024 | [80] | 0 |
| Light Heavyweight 225 lb (102.1 kg) |  Anatoly Malykhin | Dec 3, 2022 | [81] | 0 |
| Middleweight 205 lb (93.0 kg) | Mar 1, 2024 | [82] | 0 | |
| Welterweight 185 lb (83.9 kg) |  Christian Lee | Nov 19, 2022 | [83] | 0 |
| Lightweight 170 lb (77.1 kg) | Aug 26, 2022 | [84] | 1 | |
| Featherweight 155 lb (70.3 kg) |  Tang Kai | Aug 26, 2022 | [85] | 1 |
| Bantamweight 145 lb (65.8 kg) |  Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu | Dec 6, 2025 | 0 | |
| Flyweight 135 lb (61.2 kg) |  Yuya Wakamatsu | Mar 23, 2025 | [86] | 1 |
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) |  Joshua Pacio | Mar 1, 2024 | [87] | 1 |
| Kickboxing | ||||
| Heavyweight Above 225 lb (102.1 kg) |  Samet Agdeve | Nov 8, 2025 | 0 | |
| Light Heavyweight 225 lb (102.1 kg) |  Roman Kryklia | Nov 16, 2019 | [88] | 2 |
| Lightweight 170 lb (77.1 kg) |  Vacant | Apr 3, 2025 | [89] | – |
| Featherweight 155 lb (70.3 kg) |  Superbon Singha Mawynn | Jan 6, 2025 | [90] | 1 |
| Bantamweight 145 lb (65.8 kg) |  Jonathan Haggerty | Nov 4, 2023 | [91] | 1 |
| Flyweight 135 lb (61.2 kg) | Superlek Kiatmuukao | Jan 14, 2023 | [92] | 2 |
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) |  Jonathan Di Bella | Oct 4, 2025 | [93] | 0 |
| Muay Thai | ||||
| Heavyweight Above 225 lb (102.1 kg) | Roman Kryklia | Dec 8, 2023 | [94] | 1 |
| Lightweight 170 lb (77.1 kg) |  Regian Eersel | Oct 22, 2022 | [95] | 3 |
| Featherweight 155 lb (70.3 kg) | Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai | Sep 29, 2022 | [96] | 4 |
| Bantamweight 145 lb (65.8 kg) | Nabil Anane | Jun 27, 2025 | [97] | 0 |
| Flyweight 135 lb (61.2 kg) | Vacant | Nov 7, 2024 | [98] | - |
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) | Prajanchai P.K.Saenchai | Dec 22, 2023 | 1 | |
| Atomweight 115 lb (52.2 kg) | Nadaka Yoshinari | November 16, 2025 | 0 | |
| Submission grappling | ||||
| Welterweight 185 lb (83.9 kg) | Tye Ruotolo | Nov 4, 2023 | [99] | 2 |
| Lightweight 170 lb (77.1 kg) | Kade Ruotolo | Oct 22, 2022 | [100] | 3 |
| Division | Champion | Since | Ref. | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed martial arts | ||||
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) | Xiong Jing Nan | Jan 20, 2018 | 7 | |
| Atomweight 115 lb (52.2 kg) | Denice Zamboanga | May 2, 2025 | [101] | 0 |
| Kickboxing | ||||
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) | Jackie Buntan | Nov 9, 2024 | 0 | |
| Atomweight 115 lb (52.2 kg) | Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom | Mar 9, 2024 | 2 | |
| Muay Thai | ||||
| Strawweight 125 lb (56.7 kg) |  Stella Hemetsberger | Sep 6, 2025 | – | 0 |
| Atomweight 115 lb (52.2 kg) |  Allycia Rodrigues | Aug 28, 2020 | [102] | 3 |
ONE Grand Prix Champions
| Division | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Bantamweight | Masakatsu Ueda | 31 May 2013 (ONE FC: Rise to Power) |
| Flyweight | Demetrious Johnson | 13 October 2019 (ONE: Century − Part 1) |
| Lightweight | Christian Lee | 13 October 2019 (ONE: Century − Part 1) |
| Featherweight (Kickboxing) |  Giorgio Petrosyan | 13 October 2019 (ONE: Century − Part 2) |
 Chingiz Allazov | 26 March 2022 (ONE: X) | |
| Bantamweight (Muay Thai) | Rodlek P.K.Saenchai | 28 August 2020 (ONE: A New Breed) |
| Atomweight | Stamp Fairtex | 3 December 2021 (ONE: Winter Warriors) |
| Heavyweight (Kickboxing) | Roman Kryklia | 19 November 2022 (ONE 163) |
Malaysia GP Champions
| Division | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight |  A.J. Lias Mansor | 15 November 2013 (ONE FC: Warrior Spirit) |
Cambodia GP Champions
| Division | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight |  Samang Dun | 12 September 2014 (ONE FC: Rise of the Kingdom) |
China GP Champions
| Division | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight (Beijing) | Li Kai Wen | 19 December 2014 (ONE FC: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing)) |
| Flyweight (Beijing) | Wei Bin Li | 19 December 2014 (ONE FC: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing)) |
| Featherweight (Guangzhou) | Huang Di Yuan | 20 June 2015 (ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Guangzhou)) |
| Flyweight (Guangzhou) | Wu Ze | 20 June 2015 (ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Guangzhou)) |
| Featherweight (Beijing) | Yang Sen | 21 November 2015 (ONE FC: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II)) |
| Bantamweight (Changsha) | Ma Hao Bin | 23 January 2016 (ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Changsha)) |
| Flyweight (Hefei) | Huo You Xia Bu | 2 July 2016 (ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Anhui)) |
Myanmar GP Champions
| Division | Champion | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight |  Tha Pyay Nyo | 18 July 2015 (ONE: Kingdom of Warriors) |
| Lightweight | Thway Thit Aung | 18 July 2015 (ONE: Kingdom of Warriors) |
| Featherweight | Phoe Thaw | 7 October 2016 (ONE: State of Warriors) |
| Record | Fighter | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest fighter in ONE debut | Supergirl Jaroonsak | 16 years, 9 months |
| Oldest fighter in ONE debut | Renzo Gracie | 51 years, 4 months |
| Youngest champion |  Smilla Sundell | 17 years, 5 months |
| Youngest title challenger | Zhang Peimian | 19 years, 0 months |
| Oldest champion | Jadamba Narantungalag | 38 years, 10 months |
| Oldest title challenger | 43 years, 3 months | |
| Longest championship reign | Angela Lee | 2703 days |
| Shortest championship reign | Shinya Aoki | 47 days |
| Most championship reigns | Adriano Moraes,Christian Lee andJoshua Pacio | 3 |
| Most fights | Eduard Folayang | 25 |
| Most wins | Christian Lee | 17 |
| Most finishes | 16 | |
| Most knockouts | 12 | |
| Most submissions | Shinya Aoki | 10 |
| Most decision Wins | Rodtang Jitmuangnon | 11 |
| Most title fight wins | Bibiano Fernandes | 11 |
| Most title fights | 13 | |
| Most cumulative title defenses | 8 | |
| Most consecutive title defenses | Bibiano Fernandes,Xiong Jing Nan andNong-O Gaiyanghadao | 7 |
| Longest winning streak | Rodtang Jitmuangnon | 14 |
| Total Fight Time | Xiong Jing Nan | 3 hours, 13 minutes, 48 seconds. |
| Fastest knockout | Timofey Nastyukhin andCapitan Petchyindee | 0:06 |
| Fastest submission | Dagi Arslanaliev | 0:26 |
| Fastest title fight knockout | Brandon Vera | 0:26 |
| Latest title fight knockout | Zebaztian Kadestam | 24:32 |
| Fastest title fight submission | Marat Gafurov | 0:41 |
| Image | Country | Name | Date of Induction | Ref. | Event of Induction | ONE recognized accolades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | USA | Demetrious Johnson | September 6, 2024 | [103] | ONE 168 | ONE Flyweight Champion with one successful title defense. 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion. 2022 MMA Knockout of the Year. |
 | Brazil | Bibiano Fernandes | March 23, 2025 | [104] | ONE 172 | Two-time ONE Bantamweight Champion with 8 successful title defenses, and former ONE Interim Bantamweight Champion. Named inSherdog’s 2011 All-Violence team. |
 | Myanmar | Aung La Nsang | November 16, 2025 | [105] | ONE 173 | ONE Middleweight Champion with 3 successful title defenses ONE Light Heavyweight Champion with 1 successful title defense. 2018International Fighter of the Year from the World MMA Awards. |
In 2017, ONE entered into a partnership withWorld Lethwei Championship parties agreed on sending athletes to fight in each other's organization.[106]
In January 2019, ONE entered into a partnership withShooto, according to which Shooto champions would be given a contract with ONE Championship.[107]
On February 18, 2021, ONE partnered with American promotion Ringside United Fighting (RUF Nation). The partnership saw RUF hosting aRoad to ONE 16-man heavyweight MMA tournament, with the winner getting a $100,000 contract to compete in ONE Championship.[108][109]
On November 19, 2023, ONE partnered with the UK-based Muay Thai promotion Hitman Fight League. The partnership will see Hitman Fight League host twoRoad to ONE four-man tournaments, with the winners receiving a £5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to compete on ONE Friday Fights atLumpinee Stadium.[110]
Former ONE Championship fighterHerbert Burns has alleged that the promotion shows favoritism to athletes signed toEvolve MMA, which was founded by ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong. After five straight victories, he claimed that it had been agreed that he would fight for the championship, but after leaving Evolve in September 2015, he was "punished" by being sidelined for next two years. Burns said he then accepted non-title fights without being 100 percent physically because he needed money after the time off.[111]
Other former fighters have also expressed frustration with getting fights with ONE Championship. After parting ways with them in December 2023, former ONE Bantamweight ChampionBibiano Fernandes urged fighters to think twice about signing with the promotion. "I wasn't mad at them. Do I think they could have offered me more fights? One-hundred percent. I was out for three years basically and they could have offered me more fights." Fernandes went on to say, "I'm a mixed martial arts fighter but they're doing business. They only think about business, you know? What can I do?".[112]
After leaving the company, former ONE two-division championReinier de Ridder also urged fighters not to sign with the promotion. "It's that simple. You should not. There's nothing there. There's no fights. You're just wrong if you do this, if you sign there, this is a bad mistake." After losing the light heavyweight title in December 2022, De Ridder did not fight for the entirety of 2023 before returning to defend the middleweight title in March 2024 in what was his last fight with ONE Championship. "It's been a bad couple of years. The stress I've been put through. The stress my family's been put through. To even just get fights, it hasn't been nice. It's hard for me to talk bad because I had a couple of good years at ONE as well. In the beginning, they treated me well. Over the past couple of years, it's been really bad."[113]
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