One Championship, established on July 14, 2011, by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui, is a prominent multinational combat sports organization. While initially centered around mixed martial arts (MMA), ONE has broadened its scope to encompass other combat sports such as muaythai, kickboxing, and submission grappling, and formerly included boxing and lethwei. The organization's inaugural event took place on September 3, 2011, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and it has since organized over 200 events throughout Asia.
1967: Channel 7's Establishment
Channel 7 in Thailand was established in 1967, known for its television dramas in the prime-time slot.
July 2011: Chatri Sityodtong's Vision for ONE Championship
Chatri Sityodtong founded ONE Championship in July 2011 with the goal of creating a Pan-Asian promotion that celebrated martial arts as "Asia's cultural treasure." He aimed to establish ONE as a multi-billion dollar sports media property.
July 2011: ONE Championship Founded
ONE Championship was founded in July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui with a vision to unite Asia under a single combat sports promotion.
September 2011: ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion
ONE Fighting Championship held their first event, ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion, in September 2011.
September 2011: First ONE Championship Event
The first ONE Championship event was held in September 2011 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
January 2012: ONE Championship Signs Deal with ESPN Star Sports and Debuts on PPV
In January 2012, ONE Championship signed a 10-year deal with ESPN Star Sports and made its pay-per-view debut with ONE Fighting Championship: Rise of Kings.
March 2012: ONE FC: War of the Lions
In March 2012, ONE FC held the event "War of the Lions," which featured the promotion's first female MMA fight.
September 2012: ONE Adopts Pride FC's Rules on Soccer Kicks
In September 2012, ONE Championship incorporated Pride Fighting Championships' rules concerning soccer kicks, allowing fighters to execute the technique without requiring the referee's permission.
October 2012: ONE FC: Rise of Kings
In October 2012, ONE FC hosted "Rise of Kings," an event where they crowned their first two champions: Soo Chul Kim became the inaugural ONE Bantamweight World Champion, and Kotetsu Boku became the inaugural ONE Lightweight World Champion.
2012: ONE Championship Broadcast on GTV Indonesia
In 2012, ONE Championship events were broadcast on GTV in Indonesia.
February 2013: ONE FC: Return of Warriors
At "Return of Warriors" in February 2013, Honorio Banario defeated Eric Kelly to become the inaugural ONE Featherweight World Champion.
2013: ONE Championship on Indosiar with Delays
From 2013 to 2014, ONE Championship events were broadcast on Indosiar in Indonesia with delays.
January 2014: Ben Askren Reveals ONE Championship Fighter Salary
In January 2014, Ben Askren disclosed that his ONE Championship contract guaranteed a minimum of US$50,000 per fight, along with a US$50,000 win bonus. Adriano Moraes, in his first fight against Demetrious Johnson, also earned the same amount.
March 2014: ONE FC: War of Nations
Nobutatsu Suzuki defeated Brock Larson for the inaugural ONE Welterweight World Championship at "War of Nations" in March 2014.
May 2014: Rich Franklin Joins ONE Championship
In May 2014, former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin joined ONE Championship as a vice president.
July 2014: ONE Championship Introduces "ONE Warrior Bonus"
On July 9, 2014, ONE Championship introduced a new cash bonus called the "ONE Warrior bonus". The bonus was first awarded at ONE Fighting Championship: War of Dragons on July 11, 2014.
September 2014: ONE FC: Rise of the Kingdom
Adriano Moraes submitted Geje Eustaquio at "Rise of the Kingdom" in September 2014 to become the first ONE Flyweight World Champion.
November 2014: ONE FC: Battle of the Lions
The ONE Middleweight World Championship was introduced at "Battle of the Lions" in November 2014, with Igor Svirid defeating Leandro Ataides in 17 seconds to become champion.
2014: End of Delayed Broadcasts on Indosiar
ONE Championship's delayed broadcasts on Indosiar in Indonesia ended in 2014.
January 2015: ONE Championship name change
In January 2015, One Fighting Championship (ONE FC) was renamed to the stylized ONE Championship or simply ONE.
January 2015: Name Change to "One Championship"
ONE FC announced in January 2015 that they would be changing their name to "One Championship," simplifying the brand for linguistic and cultural reasons.
May 2015: ONE: Warrior's Quest
Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke defeated Roy Doliguez at "Warrior's Quest" in May 2015 to become the first ONE Strawweight World Champion.
July 2015: ONE: Kingdom of Warriors
ONE held their first Lethwei fight at "Kingdom of Warriors" in July 2015, a match between Burmese fighters Phyan Thway and Soe Htet Oo, which resulted in a draw.
December 2015: ONE: Spirit of Champions
At "Spirit of Champions" in December 2015, Brandon Vera defeated Paul Cheng to become the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Champion.
December 2015: Death of Yang Jian Bing Prompts Rule Change
The death of 21-year-old Chinese fighter, Yang Jian Bing, on December 11, 2015, from weight-cutting complications in the Philippines led to a significant rule change in ONE Championship.
2015: ONE Championship Broadcast Deals in Indonesia
ONE Championship secured broadcast deals with RCTI and iNews in Indonesia in 2015.
May 2016: ONE: Ascent to Power
ONE crowned two new champions at "Ascent to Power" in May 2016. Roger Gracie became the inaugural ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion, and Angela Lee became the inaugural ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion, as well as one of the youngest title holders in combat sports history.
August 2016: ONE Bans Soccer Kicks
As part of its global expansion strategy, ONE Championship banned soccer kicks entirely in August 2016.
August 2016: One Grappling Challenge Macao
In August 2016, ONE Championship held their first grappling tournament, "One Grappling Challenge Macao."
2016: ONE Championship Broadcast on Thairath TV
ONE Championship events were broadcast on Thairath TV in Thailand from 2016 to 2022.
May 2017: ONE: Dynasty of Heroes
A "grappling super fight" was held at "Dynasty of Heroes" in May 2017 between Shinya Aoki and Garry Tonon.
June 2017: ONE: Light of a Nation
ONE held its second Lethwei match at "Light of a Nation" in June 2017. Thway Thit Win Hlaing defeated Soe Htet Oo by decision.
November 2017: ONE: Legends of the World
At "Legends of the World" in November 2017, Martin Nguyen became ONE Championship's first simultaneous two-division champion after knocking out Eduard Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship.
November 2017: ONE Warrior Series Launched
In November 2017, ONE Championship introduced the ONE Warrior Series, a competition headed by VP Rich Franklin to scout emerging martial arts talent in Asia.
2017: ONE Championship Partners with World Lethwei Championship
In 2017, ONE Championship formed a partnership with World Lethwei Championship, enabling the exchange of fighters between the two organizations.
2017: End of Broadcast Deal with RCTI and iNews
ONE Championship's broadcast deals with RCTI and iNews in Indonesia ended in 2017.
January 2018: ONE: Kings of Courage
Xiong Jing Nan won the inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight World Championship at "Kings of Courage" in January 2018.
February 12, 2018: ONE Championship Announces ONE Super Series
ONE Championship unveiled the ONE Super Series on February 12, 2018, a platform to showcase kickboxing and Muay Thai fights.
April 2018: ONE: Heroes of Honor Features First Muay Thai and Kickboxing Bouts
ONE: Heroes of Honor, held in Manila in April 2018, marked the first event to feature bouts contested under Muay Thai and kickboxing rules.
May 2018: ONE: Unstoppable Dreams
At "Unstoppable Dreams" in May 2018, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao became ONE's first Muay Thai champion, winning the inaugural ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship.
May 2018: ONE Championship Starts Free Live Streams
In May 2018, ONE Championship began offering free live streams of its events on its dedicated apps and YouTube channel in select locations.
July 2018: ONE: Battle for the Heavens
ONE's first kickboxing champion was crowned at "Battle for the Heavens" in July 2018. Kai Ting Chuang won the ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship.
October 2018: ONE Championship Becomes a Billion Dollar Company
By October 2018, ONE Championship reached a value of over $1 billion.
October 2018: ONE Championship Trades Ben Askren for Demetrious Johnson
In the first "trade" in MMA history, ONE Championship traded Ben Askren to the UFC in exchange for Demetrious Johnson in October 2018.
December 2018: ONE Championship Partners with Turner Sports
ONE Championship announced a three-year broadcast deal with Turner Sports in December 2018, bringing live events to B/R Live and recap shows to TNT.
2018: ONE Championship's Financial Reporting Practices Raise Concerns
Since 2018, ONE Championship faced increased scrutiny regarding its financial reporting. The organization's decision to integrate barter transactions into broadcasting and sponsorship revenue made it difficult to determine the actual cash flow, raising concerns about transparency.
2018: ONE Championship Broadcast on SCTV and Vidio
ONE Championship partnered with SCTV for delayed broadcasts and Vidio for live broadcasts in Indonesia starting in 2018.
2018: Miesha Tate Joins ONE Championship
Former Strikeforce and UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate became a vice president of ONE Championship in 2018.
January 2019: ONE Championship Partners with Shooto
In January 2019, ONE Championship partnered with Shooto. Under the agreement, Shooto champions were offered contracts with ONE Championship.
February 2019: ONE: Clash of Legends & ONE: Call to Greatness
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao became the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion at "Clash of Legends" in February 2019. That same month at "Call to Greatness," Stamp Fairtex won the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship, making her the promotion's first two-sport champion.
May 2019: ONE: Warriors of Light & ONE: Enter the Dragon
ONE debuted two more championship titles in May 2019. At "Warriors of Light," Petchdam Petchyindee Academy won the inaugural ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship. At "Enter the Dragon," Regian Eersel won the inaugural ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship.
September 2019: ONE Championship: Immortal Triumph, the First All-Striking Event
ONE Championship: Immortal Triumph, held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 6, 2019, made history as the first ONE event to exclusively feature ONE Super Series contests.
September 2019: FITE TV to Broadcast ONE Championship's 100th Event
In September 2019, it was announced that FITE TV would broadcast ONE Championship's two-part, 100th numbered event, Century.
November 2019: ONE: Age of Dragons
Roman Kryklia became the inaugural ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion at "Age of Dragons" in November 2019.
December 2019: ONE: Mark of Greatness
At "Mark of Greatness" in December 2019, both the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship and the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship titles were introduced, with Alaverdi Ramazanov and Sam-A Gaiyanghadao winning them respectively.
2019: ONE Championship's Planned Introduction of WADA Standard Testing
ONE Championship had intended to implement World Anti-Doping Agency standard testing in 2019, but prior to the partnership with International Doping Tests & Management, the organization had not publicly conducted drug testing on its athletes.
February 2020: ONE Championship Launches "Infinity" Series
In February 2020, ONE Championship introduced the "Infinity" series, featuring events with at least three championship fights and a minimum of 12 world champions.
February 2020: Inaugural ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship
In February 2020, Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy won the inaugural ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship against Pongsiri P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym.
February 2020: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao Becomes Two-Sport Champion
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao secured his second championship title in February 2020 at ONE: King of the Jungle, adding the inaugural ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship to his ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship after defeating Rocky Ogden.
February 19, 2020: ONE Warrior Series 10
The final event of the ONE Warrior series in its original format, ONE Warrior Series 10, took place on February 19, 2020.
November 2020: ONE Championship Partners with Facebook
ONE Championship announced a partnership with Facebook in November 2020 to distribute its content on Facebook Watch and IGTV.
December 9, 2020: Bloody Elbow Publishes Part One of Exposé on ONE Championship
On December 9, 2020, Bloody Elbow released the first part of a two-part article detailing allegations against ONE Championship, including claims of mistreatment of fighters and employees.
December 2020: ONE Championship Partners with One Pride MMA
In December 2020, ONE Championship established a partnership with Indonesian promotion One Pride MMA, similar to their previous agreement with Shooto.
2020: ONE Super Series Adopts Boxing Gloves for Kickboxing Bouts
By 2020, ONE Super Series kickboxing bouts transitioned to using boxing gloves.
2020: ONE Championship Returns to GTV Indonesia
ONE Championship events returned to GTV in Indonesia in 2020, but only as repeats.
January 6, 2021: Bloody Elbow Publishes Part Two of Exposé on ONE Championship
On January 6, 2021, Bloody Elbow published the second part of their exposé on ONE Championship, further detailing the allegations of mistreatment within the organization.
February 18, 2021: ONE Championship Partners with Ringside United Fighting
On February 18, 2021, ONE Championship partnered with American promotion Ringside United Fighting (RUF Nation). RUF hosted a Road to ONE heavyweight tournament, offering the winner a $100,000 ONE Championship contract.
May 2021: Gordon Ryan's Planned Debut Canceled
In May 2021, ONE Championship announced Gordon Ryan's planned debut against Shinya Aoki in August, but the match was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ryan's health issues.
October 2021: Superbon Wins Inaugural ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship
Superbon Singha Mawynn was crowned the inaugural ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion in October 2021 after knocking out Giorgio Petrosyan at ONE: First Strike.
December 2021: ONE Championship Raises $150 Million in Funding Round
In December 2021, ONE Championship's valuation increased to $1.35 billion following a funding round led by Guggenheim Investments and the Qatar Investment Authority.
2021: ONE Championship Faces Financial Scrutiny and Reports of Potential Bankruptcy
In 2021, ONE Championship's financial performance came under scrutiny, with reports highlighting an accumulated net loss of US$383 million. MMA journal Bloody Elbow raised concerns about the promotion's financial stability and questioned its accounting practices, particularly a substantial barter transaction related to "intellectual property rights."
2021: End of Repeat Broadcasts on GTV Indonesia
ONE Championship's repeat broadcasts on GTV in Indonesia ended in 2021.
2021: Miesha Tate Returns to Fighting
Miesha Tate left her role as vice president of ONE Championship in 2021 to return to active competition as a fighter.
2021: ONE Championship Secures $150 Million in Funding
In 2021, ONE Championship successfully raised $150 million through investments from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Guggenheim Investments.
January 2022: ONE Championship Reintroduces "ONE Warrior Bonus"
ONE Championship reintroduced the "ONE Warrior bonus" in January 2022, with a potential range of one to five bonuses awarded per event, each worth $50,000.
March 2022: ONE X Grappling Matches
In March 2022 at ONE: X, the organization's tenth-anniversary event, ONE hosted two grappling matches featuring Mei Yamaguchi vs. Danielle Kelly and Reinier de Ridder vs. André Galvão.
April 2022: Smilla Sundell Becomes Youngest ONE Champion
At ONE 156 in April 2022, 17-year-old Smilla Sundell made history by becoming the youngest ONE champion after defeating Jackie Buntan for the inaugural ONE Women's Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.
April 27, 2022: ONE Championship Signs Deal with Amazon Prime Video
On April 27, 2022, ONE Championship announced a five-year distribution deal with Amazon Prime Video, providing exclusive broadcast rights for at least 12 live events annually in the United States and Canada.
May 6, 2022: ONE Championship Partners with Fairtex Fight Promotion
On May 6, 2022, ONE Championship announced a partnership with Fairtex Fight Promotion, based in Thailand. Fairtex would host Road to ONE Muay Thai tournaments with a $100,000 ONE Championship contract for the winners.
May 2022: ONE Championship Roster Reaches 600 Fighters
In May 2022, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that the organization had reached a milestone of 600 fighters.
May 20, 2022: Changes to ONE's Submission Grappling Rules
ONE Championship modified its submission grappling rules. Before May 20, 2022, victory could only be achieved via submission, and matches ending without a submission after 12 minutes were declared a draw.
May 27, 2022: ONE Championship Partners with Muay Thai Grand Prix
On May 27, 2022, ONE Championship partnered with UK-based Muay Thai Grand Prix (MTGP). MTGP agreed to host Road to ONE tournaments, offering winners a $100,000 ONE Championship contract.
August 2022: ONE Championship Partners with International Doping Tests & Management
In August 2022 ONE Championship announced its partnership with International Doping Tests & Management, a subsidiary of Drug Free Sport International, to independently manage drug testing for its fighters, starting with ONE 160 that month.
September 12, 2022: ONE Warrior Series Returns as Reality TV Show
On September 12, 2022, ONE Warrior Series returned, reimagined as a reality television program called ONE Warrior Series: Philippines.
September 2022: ONE Championship Announces Partnership with Royal Thai Army
In September 2022, ONE Championship revealed a partnership with the Royal Thai Army to hold at least 52 events in 2023 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
September 18, 2022: Premiere of ONE Warrior Series: Philippines
The premiere of the 12-episode reality show, ONE Warrior Series: Philippines, aired on September 18, 2022, featuring 16 Filipino mixed martial arts fighters vying for a $100,000 contract with ONE Championship.
September 29, 2022: ONE Championship Partners with beIN Sports
On September 29, 2022, ONE Championship announced a multi-year partnership with beIN Sports to broadcast live events across the Middle East and North Africa.
October 2022: Mikey Musumeci Claims Inaugural ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship
October 2022 marked a significant moment in ONE history as Mikey Musumeci won the inaugural ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship by defeating Cleber Souza at ONE on Prime Video 2.
October 2022: ONE Championship Changes Legal Domicile
One Group Holdings changed its legal domicile from Singapore to the Cayman Islands in October 2022.
October 2022: Kade Ruotolo Wins Inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship
Also at ONE on Prime Video 3 in October 2022, Kade Ruotolo became the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion after defeating Uali Kurzhev.
October 2022: Regian Eersel Becomes Two-Sport Champion at ONE on Prime Video 3
ONE on Prime Video 3 in October 2022 saw Regian Eersel become a two-sport champion, adding the inaugural ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Championship to his ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Championship after defeating Sinsamut Klinmee.
December 8, 2022: ONE Championship Partners with Tero Entertainment
On December 8, 2022, ONE Championship announced a partnership with Tero Entertainment to broadcast ONE Lumpinee (ONE Friday Fights) from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok on Thailand's Channel 7.
2022: ONE Championship Generates Modest Revenue Despite its Size
Reports indicated that ONE Championship generated revenue between $5-8 million in 2022.
2022: Victor Cui Departs ONE Championship
Victor Cui, co-founder of ONE Championship, left the organization in early 2022 to become president and CEO of the Edmonton Elks.
2022: ONE Championship Partners with Moji and Netverse
In 2022, ONE Championship partnered with Moji and Netverse for broadcasts in Indonesia.
2022: ONE Championship Parent Company Relocates
In 2022, ONE Championship's parent company, One Group Holdings, changed its legal operations from Singapore to the Cayman Islands.
January 2023: ONE Friday Fights 1
On January 2023, the weekly ONE Friday Fights series began with ONE Friday Fights 1 at Lumpinee Stadium. The event featured Nong-O Gaiyanghadao successfully defending his bantamweight Muay Thai title and became a ratings success in Thailand.
January 20, 2023: ONE Lumpinee Premieres on Channel 7
ONE Lumpinee (ONE Friday Fights) premiered on Channel 7 in Thailand on January 20, 2023, marking a shift in Thai television programming.
February 18, 2023: Ineffectiveness of Urine Specific Gravity Tests Revealed
On February 18, 2023, Dr. Oliver Barley exposed the inadequacy of urine specific gravity tests, claiming they were easily manipulated. He even admitted to assisting some ONE Championship athletes in passing these hydration tests despite undergoing weight cuts.
March 16, 2023: ONE Championship Partners with Seven Network
On March 16, 2023, ONE Championship partnered with Seven Network to air ONE Fight Night and ONE Friday Fights exclusively on 7plus in Australia.
May 2023: ONE Championship Debuts in America with ONE Fight Night 10
In May 2023, ONE Championship hosted its first event in the United States, ONE Fight Night 10, at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, marking the promotion's expansion into the US.
June 2023: ONE Championship to Host Events in Qatar
In June 2023, ONE Championship announced an agreement with Media City Qatar to bring live events to Qatar.
July 2023: ONE Championship Conducts Second Round of Layoffs Amid Financial Concerns
In July 2023, ONE Championship conducted a second round of layoffs, affecting 12 to 15 staff members. This followed an earlier round of layoffs in March 2023, indicating potential financial difficulties for the organization.
November 2023: ONE Championship's Funds from 2021 Investment Round Nearly Exhausted
By November 2023, reports suggested that ONE Championship had almost exhausted the $150 million funding secured in 2021 from investors like QIA and Guggenheim Investments.
November 19, 2023: ONE Championship Partners with Hitman Fight League
On November 19, 2023, ONE Championship announced a partnership with Hitman Fight League, a UK-based Muay Thai promotion. Hitman would organize Road to ONE tournaments with a £5,000 prize and a chance to compete on ONE Friday Fights for the winners.
December 12, 2023: ONE Championship Partners with Sky Sports
On December 12, 2023, ONE Championship partnered with Sky Sports, making it the exclusive home for ONE Fight Night and ONE Friday Fights in the UK and Ireland.
2023: ONE Championship Continues with Moji and NET.
ONE Championship continued its broadcast partnerships with Moji and NET. in Indonesia in 2023.
2024: Financial Projections Suggest Depletion of ONE Championship's Resources
Financial projections suggested that ONE Championship's financial resources could be depleted by the third quarter of 2024.
2024: ONE Championship Broadcast Changes on Moji
Starting in 2024, ONE Championship events on Moji in Indonesia transitioned to delayed broadcasts.
2024: Planned ONE Event in Qatar Postponed Due to Withdrawal of Support
The withdrawal of support from key partners in Qatar, including Qatar Airways and Ooredoo, forced the postponement of a planned ONE Championship event in Qatar. The event was later rescheduled for 2024.