ONE Championship News

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 10, 2019

ONE Championship’s first ever Japan event, ONE: A NEW ERA, got even bigger with the addition of a fourth World Title contest to an already stacked card.  The promotion announced the rubber match between ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon and former titleholder Bibiano Fernandes for the spectacle which takes place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March. This will be the third time the two men have met, and with each man having a win each, the next one will decide the true king of the division.

Tom Taylor - March 8, 2019

On Friday, ONE Championship returned to Yangon, Myanmar with the compelling ONE: Reign of Valor card. Unlike ONE’s previous visits to Myanmar, this card was not topped by an appearance from middleweight and light heavyweight champ Aung La N Sang. Instead, the headlining bout was a welterweight title fight between champion Zebaztian Kadestam and challenger Georgiy Kichigin.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2019

.@UFC hasn't stayed with just one network so why can't more fighters be free agents? @Ealvarezfight WATCH MORE: https://t.co/UWddEsNyBb pic.twitter.com/Zt8VHRQjxk

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2019

Vitor Belfort is now a ONE Championship fighter. While “The Phenom” can look forward to some exciting MMA bouts under the ONE banner, he’s also keen to take advantage of the fact that organization promotes other martial arts as well — namely boxing. Speaking shortly after he signed with ONE Championship, Belfort expressed interest in a special rules boxing match with the legendary Roy Jones Jr. “One fight that I’d really like, I told Chatri [Sityodtong] I’d really like to put on this fight, is me vs. Roy Jones Jr.,” Belfort said. “So Roy, wherever you are, I want to come challenge you for a boxing match — but with this condition. I’m going to be able to dirty box with you.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 4, 2019

Martin Nguyen is a trailblazer. The Vietnamese-Australian martial artist is the first ONE Championship athlete to win world titles in two different weight classes. Before reaching the pinnacle of the promotion, Nguyen had only three bouts when he made the jump to ONE Championship. From 2012 to 2013, Nguyen went 3-0 with stoppage wins in each match.

Tom Taylor - March 1, 2019

Vitor Belfort is the latest high profile free agent to sign with Singapore-based martial arts powerhouse ONE Championship. This exciting news was announced by ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong on Thursday evening. https://twitter.com/yodchatri/status/1101295736547766272 “BREAKING NEWS: I am thrilled to announce that UFC Legend Vitor Belfort is now a ONE Championship athlete! A former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, Vitor holds the record for the most KOs in UFC history as well as the 2nd most finishes. #WeAreONE” Sityodtong announced on Twitter.

Drake Riggs - February 28, 2019

In terms of hot MMA promotions right now, there may be none that is more of fire than the Singapore based ONE Championship. Over the recent months, ONE has made several big-name acquisitions for their roster. Most notably being none other than former UFC champions Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, and Miesha Tate (Vice President role).

Drake Riggs - February 27, 2019

In 2016, the ‘Underground King’ Eddie Alvarez became the UFC lightweight champion of the world by defeating Rafael Dos Anjos via first-round TKO. Immediately after that, it was expected that we could very well see the unbeaten contender, Khabib Nurmagomedov finally getting his long-awaited UFC title shot. Instead, it would be given to the featherweight champion, Conor McGregor who would make good on it by defeating Alvarez via second-round TKO.

Drake Riggs - February 26, 2019

https://twitter.com/MMAFighting/status/1100625497048866817 “Look, this is a serious problem,” Eddie Alvarez said at Tuesday’s ONE Championship media gathering. “I’m laughin’, but it’s nothing to joke about. We’re all part of the problem, all of us are. When an interim title is given… And the media makes a big fuss of it and a fighter makes a big fuss of it and a fan makes a big fuss of it, an interim title has value. That’s the saddest thing that can happen in the sport. “Because an interim title is given in replacement for money. ‘We don’t wanna give you money, but well give you an interim title. We don’t wanna give you money, but we’ll give you a main event spot. We don’t wanna give you money, but we’ll give you that opponent you want. We’ll give you everything… But what you deserve. And that’s money,’

Drake Riggs - February 26, 2019

From the UFC to ONE Championship… A transition that multiple big name fighters are starting to find themselves going through. One of the more recent ones being “Super” Sage Northcutt (11-2) who came as a bit of a surprise to see departing the UFC as they were so fond of him in his still young and developing career.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 25, 2019

Undefeated ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee is going to grace the Ryokogu Kokugikan on March 31 as part of a heavily-stacked main card at ONE: A New Era, and she couldn’t be more excited. For the first time ever, ONE Championship has put together four World Title bouts on a single evening. This in addition to promotional debuts for Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez. To say that ONE’s first foray on Japanese soil is going to be epic would be a massive understatement.

Tom Taylor - February 24, 2019

In the days since he officially announced his retirement on Thursday morning, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champ Georges St-Pierre has been praised by dozens of his fellow fighters. It’s arguable that none of them have summed up his incredible career better than former UFC bantamweight champ Miesha Tate. "People don't realize how difficult it is to be flawless in a fight…and I think that @GeorgesStPierre is the closest to perfect in a fight that I've ever witnessed." @MieshaTate reflects on the career and legacy of GSP with @RyanMcKinnell #Rush #GOAT pic.twitter.com/Lh4RQVBMlC

Tom Taylor - February 21, 2019

On March 31, Asian martial arts powerhouse ONE Championship will make its debut in the MMA hotbed of Tokyo, Japan with ONE: A New Era. This card, which will emanate from the hallowed Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall in the city’s Sumida ward, is absolutely stacked. The card will be topped by a whopping four ONE Championship title fights, including one champion-versus-champion showdown.

Thomas Taylor - February 20, 2019

From the moment it was announced that ONE Championship was promoting a Grand Prix tournament in its stacked lightweight division, there was no doubt that Ev Ting would be getting an invitation. The Malaysian-Kiwi is as experienced and dangerous as anybody in the division, and the tournament just wouldn’t feel complete if he wasn’t a part of it. Ting will compete in his first ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix showdown at ONE: Call to Greatness on Friday Night in Singapore (Friday morning in the Western Hemisphere). In this quarterfinal bout, he’ll battle a fighter many consider the tournament dark horse: Turkey’s Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev — more widely known simply as “Dagi.”

Thomas Taylor - February 19, 2019

Costa Rica’s Ariel Sexton has become a staple of the ONE Championship lightweight division. Given his status as one of the organization’s premier lightweights, it came as no surprise when he was invited to compete in the anticipated ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. Sexton will compete in his first Grand Prix bout on Friday night in Singapore (Friday morning in the Western Hemisphere) at ONE: Call to Greatness, where he will battle local hero Amir Khan for a ticket to the quarterfinals.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 19, 2019

Last October ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced a blockbuster addition to the promotion’s stacked lightweight division in the form of former UFC and Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez started his martial arts journey when he was in high school as a wrestler. He later incorporated a few more disciplines and went on to become a professional mixed martial artist to support his family.

BJPENN.COM Staff - February 18, 2019

Demetrious Johnson did not hesitate to sign with ONE Championship after learning about their core values and how they treat their athletes from CEO Chatri Sityodtong. His excitement was evident when he flew to Singapore to witness a live ONE event late last year. “I’m very excited to be a ONE athlete,” Johnson said.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2019

Another Valentine’s Days (February 14) has come and gone. Roses were purchased, chocolate was eaten, candles were lit, bedroom doors were closed, and kept closed for hours on end… The world’s top MMA fighters, of course, are no different from the rest of us when it comes to this special day. If they’ve got significant others, they make romantic Valentine’s Day plans, and oftentimes, romantic Valentine’s Day social media posts to celebrate their love.