ONE Championship News
ONE Championship announces three title fights, multiple GP finals for ONE: Century
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2019
On October 13, ONE Championship will return to Tokyo, Japan with ONE: Century — its 100th event. The promotion is delivering a suitably stacked card for this momentous occasion. Speaking on social media, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced three massive title fights and several other huge bouts for this event.
ONE Championship's most devastating punchers
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 29, 2019
Fans of martial arts love exceptional strikers, and ONE Championship has several names on its roster who punch with power, speed, and accuracy. Here’s a list of ONE Championship athletes who are most effective with their fists. Martin Nguyen
'Losing sucks,' but Angela Lee vows to grow from the experience
Tom Taylor - June 28, 2019
ONE Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee recently had her first taste of defeat. This unappetizing dish was served up at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo in March when, after a four frenetic rounds of action, she was stopped by a volley of fifth-round strikes from ONE Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan. Lee does not plan on having a second serving.
Eddie Alvarez shares theory on why he struggles in promotional debuts
Natasha Hooper - June 28, 2019
Eddie Alvarez is a firm believer in the old adage that respect is earned, not given. Despite having a great track record and wins over notable stars including Anthony Pettis and Rafael Dos Anjos, Alvarez is now back to square one in ONE Championship and is ready to earn any respect he receives. Back in March, Eddie Alvarez made his ONE Championship debut against Timofey Nastyukhin. He experienced a first-round TKO at the hands of the Russian fighter. Many fans predicted Alvarez would win and were shocked by the outcome. There were residual expectations coming from his UFC and Bellator careers that not all debuting ONE Championship fighters have to contend with.
Eating and living clean is the secret to success for Ev Ting
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 24, 2019
New Zealand-Malaysian star Ev Ting is getting back to basics ahead of his clash with Japan’s Daichi Abe at ONE: Masters of Destiny in Malaysia. The 29-year-old has been a mainstay of what is arguably ONE Championship’s most talent-rich division for over five years, where he’s experienced plenty of success in establishing himself as one of its toughest competitors.
9 stars who should be on ONE Championship's radar
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 23, 2019
It seems ONE Championship is always adding to its roster with high-level martial artists. As ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong mentioned in an interview with ‘The Fight Guys’ and Forbes’ Brian Mazique, there are more significant signings on the way this year. We don’t know which athletes will be the next to join the organization, but here is a list of 10 athletes ONE should have on their radar.
Eric Kelly wants to end his martial arts career on a high note
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 21, 2019
It was a tough night at the office for Filipino mixed martial arts veteran Eric Kelly at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST. The former ONE World Title contender came up short against Sanda specialist, Niu Kang Kang last 15 June in Shanghai, China’s Baoshan Arena. Kelly admitted that even before event night, a few things began to go awry. The 37-year old suffered an injury in training, getting a cut from an accidental headbutt.
Bouts to make after ONE: Legendary Quest
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 21, 2019
ONE: Legendary Quest was another successful martial events for ONE Championship as the promotion brought its brand of action to Shanghai once more. In the main event, 21-year-old two-sport world champion Stamp Fairtex successfully defended her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship against 18-year-old Alma Juniku. The challenger made an excellent account of herself, but in the end, she didn’t have the power or experience necessary to dethrone Stamp.
Undaunted by debut loss, Eddie Alvarez targets finish of Folayang and ONE Championship gold
Tom Taylor - June 18, 2019
Eddie Alvarez was widely expected to blow through Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin in his ONE Championship debut, which occurred on the stacked ONE: A New Era card in late March. In the end, however, the former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion was stopped by his unheralded opponent in the waning moments of the first round. Despite this setback, Alvarez remains focused on his ultimate goal: the ONE Lightweight World Title. He came to the Singapore-based promotion eager to add a new belt to his crowded trophy case, and he’s still confident he’ll achieve this goal.
VIDEO | Every finish from ONE: Legendary Quest
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 17, 2019
ONE Championship made a successful return to China, with ONE: Legendary Quest selling out the Baoshan Arena in beautiful Shanghai. The biggest winner of the night was no doubt reigning ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand, who successfully defended her Muay Thai crown against a very game challenger in Alma Juniku of Australia.
What a ONE Championship Welterweight World Grand Prix field might look like
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 17, 2019
Tournaments and Grand Prix are excellent for martial arts promotions. It hearkens back to the golden days of competition in a variety of combat sports. ONE Championship is capturing that magic with its various ladder-style tournaments. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev has already secured himself a spot in the lightweight final on the strength of two KO victories over Ev Ting and Amir Khan. Arslanaliev will face the winner of the Timofey Nastyuhkin vs. Honorio Banario semifinal, which takes place in Manila this August.
Agilan Thani eyeing quick finish of Yoshihiro Akiyama
Tom Taylor - June 14, 2019
On Saturday, in the co-main event of ONE: Legendary Quest in Shanghai, China, Agilan Thani will look to spoil the ONE Championship debut of K-1 and UFC veteran Yoshihiro Akiyama — more widely known as “Sexyama.” This massive fight was first offered to Thani in April, at the ONE Elite Retreat, on the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand. At first, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but of course he could not turn the opportunity down.
Stamp Fairtex and Alma Juniku discuss their upcoming title bout
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 14, 2019
Two of the youngest athletes on the ONE roster will clash at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST on 15 June in Shanghai. 21-year-old Stamp Fairtex is set to defend her ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title against the 18-year-old Alma Juniku, a WBC and IPCC Muay Thai World Champion. The match will be Juniku’s ONE debut and Stamp’s second bout of the year.
6 athletes destined to be ONE Championship title holders
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 14, 2019
The influx of talent to the ONE Championship roster is undeniable. The Singapore-based martial arts organization has consistently signed athletes to join its ranks, and each month, the level of talent seems to increase. Upon signing with the organization, athletes likely envision themselves as champions of the promotion down the line. When compiling this list, there is focus on athletes who had not yet become ONE world champions. However, the following six competitors are destined to one day reach that level with the organization.
18-year-old Muay Thai star Alma Juniku breaks down Shanghai showdown with Stamp Fairtex
Tom Taylor - June 12, 2019
On Saturday, June 15, in the main event of ONE: Legendary Quest in shimmering Shanghai, China, 18-year-old Muay Thai star Alma Juniku will take on champion Stamp Fairtex for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title. Ahead of this mammoth Muay Thai showdown, the Albanian-Australian talent had a quick chat with BJPenn.com’s Tom Taylor.
Myanmar's Phoe Thaw is pumped for first ONE bout outside of his homeland
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 12, 2019
Myanmar’s Phoe Thaw will step into the unknown on 15 June when he faces off against Indonesian veteran Victorio “Indra” Senduk at ONE: Legendary Quest in Shanghai, China. This contest will be the first matchup that Phoe Thaw has competed in outside of his home country, and the 34-year-old is thrilled that he has been given this chance to showcase his talents to an entirely new set of fans.
5 athletes with most to lose at ONE: Legendary Quest
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 10, 2019
There is always a ton on the line whenever athletes climb onto the canvas to do battle. Sometimes, depending on the athlete’s current situation, there is even more at stake than usual. On June 15, ONE Championship heads to Shanghai for ONE: Legendary Quest at the Baoshan Arena. The card is topped by an epic ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship bout. The 21-year-old champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand will defend her title against 18-year-old challenger Alma Juniku of Australia.
Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez return to action at ONE: Dawn of Heroes
Tom Taylor - June 10, 2019
The next ONE Championship appearances of former UFC champs Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson are now official. Both men are set to return on August 2 at ONE: Dawn of Heroes in Manila, Philippines. Eddie Alvarez will make his return against two-time ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang. This booking, which looks like a 2019 Fight of the Year contender on paper, will mark Alvarez’s opportunity to rebound from a failed ONE debut opposite Timofey Nastyukhin, and Folayang’s chance to rebound from a title loss to Shinya Aoki.