ONE Championship News
EXCLUSIVE | Brandon Vera chasing long-time dream into title bout with Aung La N Sang
Tom Taylor - April 16, 2019
Shortly after Aung La N Sang defended his ONE Championship Middleweight World Title with a knockout of Ken Hasegawa at ONE: A New Era in March, he was joined in the cage by ONE Heavyweight Champion Brandon Vera and ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. It was announced right then and there, in front of throngs of Japanese fans, that Aung La would defend his other World Title — the ONE light heavyweight belt — against the heavyweight champ Vera.
ONE Championship announces partnership with MMA governing body GAMMA
BJPENN.COM Staff - April 16, 2019
In a massive bid to bring amateur mixed martial arts to the Olympics, ONE Championship and Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) have announced a partnership, in a clear push to develop the sport at the grassroots level. GAMMA is the independent governing body for the sport of mixed martial arts worldwide.
ONE Championship’s historic card in Tokyo draws 42 million viewers worldwide
BJPENN.COM Staff - April 16, 2019
The highly-stacked ONE: A NEW ERA card in Tokyo last March 31st was by far the most prolific ONE Championship event in the company’s near eight-year history. Loaded with four World Championship bouts and 23 martial arts World Champions featured on the card, the Singapore-based promotion’s maiden show in Japan was dubbed as the biggest martial arts event in history.
Chatri Sityodtong reaffirms plans for ONE Championship event in the US
Tom Taylor - April 15, 2019
ONE Championship is rapidly expanding across Asia, having already conquered Asian markets like Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, and most recently, Japan. And from the sounds of it, the promotion will soon expand overseas to the United States of America. Speaking to Asian Persuasion MMA, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong reaffirmed that he plans to bring the promotion to the US in the near future.
EXCLUSIVE | Sage Northcutt breaks down his upcoming ONE Championship debut
Tom Taylor - April 10, 2019
Former UFC welterweight star “Super” Sage Northcutt is set to make his debut in the ONE Championship cage at ONE: Enter the Dragon on May 17 in Singapore. He’ll make this debut opposite kickboxing export Cosmo Alexandre, who has carved out an impressive 7-1 MMA record, primarily in the Bellator cage. Sage Northcutt is excited to get this new phase of his fighting career underway.
EXCLUSIVE | 'Disappointed' Kevin Belingon opens up on DQ loss to Bibiano Fernandes
Tom Taylor - April 9, 2019
When Kevin Belingon and Bibiano Fernandes stepped into the cage to battle for the ONE Bantamweight World Title at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan, the expectation was that their fight, no matter how it ended, would settle their long-time rivalry. Fernandes had won their first fight by submission. Belingon had won their second by decision. And there, under the bright lights of Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall in Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, we finally had our tie-breaker. Much like their second fight, which occurred in November, this third fight looked like it would be a fun one from the get-go. First, Belingon rocked Fernandes. Then, Fernandes rocked Belingon. All signs pointed to a riveting, back-and-forth war.
Demetrious Johnson looking at five more years of fighting before retirement
Drake Riggs - April 8, 2019
In the world of MMA, ‘Mighty Mouse’ Demetrious Johnson has essentially done it all. And as he now moves on to the next chapter of his illustrious career overseas, that’s where it looks like his story will end. Johnson made the transition from the UFC to ONE Championship in the groundbreaking first-ever MMA ‘trade’ that saw him get swapped for ONE’s former welterweight king, ‘Funky’ Ben Askren. Both have since made their respective and successful promotional debuts.
EXCLUSIVE | Sage Northcutt reacts to ONE Championship debuts of Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2019
Over the last few months, ONE Championship has signed some truly elite talent in Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, Sage Northcutt and Vitor Belfort. Two of those fighters made their ONE Championship debuts at the recent ONE: A New Era card in Tokyo — and with very different results. Eddie Alvarez debuted first, and was knocked out by Russian juggernaut Timofey Nastyukhin in a jaw-dropping upset. Demetrious Johnson debuted next, submitting a game Yuya Wakamatsu in the second round.
ONE Championship announces Aoki vs. Lee title fight, 5 Grand Prix fights for Singapore card
Tom Taylor - April 5, 2019
ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan was so stacked that some fans worried ONE Championship might be overdoing it; that the promotion’s next few cards might suffer as a result. That doesn’t seem to be the case.
Eddie Alvarez reacts to ONE Championship loss to Timofey Nastyukhin
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2019
Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez is one of several high profile free agents to sign an exclusive, multi-fight deal with ONE Championship of late. “The Underground King” made his debut with the Singapore-based martial arts powerhouse on at ONE: A New Era on Sunday night in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately for Eddie Alvarez and his throngs of dedicated fans, this debut ONE Championship fight didn’t go quite as he planned, as he was pummelled to a first-round stoppage by his dangerous opponent, Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin.
Chatri Sityodtong suggests ONE Championship could potentially sign Tenshin Nasukawa
Tom Taylor - April 2, 2019
ONE Championship has signed a host of high profile free agents over the last few months, such as former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez and Vitor Belfort, former UFC stars Sage Northcutt, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Yushin Okami, Muay Thai star Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex, and kickboxing ace Nieky Holzken. Speaking at the ONE: A New Era post-fight press conference on Sunday, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong promised the free agent signings will continue. One possible future ONE signing, he claimed, is kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa, who was cage-side for the event.
Ken Hasegawa suffers nasty injury in loss to Aung La N Sang at ONE: A New Era
Drake Riggs - April 1, 2019
ONE Championship held their biggest event to date this past weekend with ONE: A New Era which took place live from Tokyo, Japan. The card featured several fantastic match-ups. Two of which included the promotional debuts of former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez. As well as four big title fights.