Tag: ONE Championship News

ONE Championship’s Chatri Sityodtong denies $110 million company loss despite ACRA filings: ‘It is inaccurate again’

Chatri SityodtongONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong is calling b*llshit on a recent report that the promotion had lost $110 million in 2010, increasing their total losses to $383 million. The ONE founder made an appearance on ‘The MMA Hour‘ with Ariel Helwani to discuss the recent report that the promotion itself submitted in their 2021 ACRA […]

Chatri Sityodtong

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong is calling b*llshit on a recent report that the promotion had lost $110 million in 2010, increasing their total losses to $383 million.

The ONE founder made an appearance on ‘The MMA Hour‘ with Ariel Helwani to discuss the recent report that the promotion itself submitted in their 2021 ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) fillings and was quick to dispute the loss when questioned by Helwani.

“I think if you want financial information, go to the most credible sources in the world, like a Bloomberg or Financial Times, which also wrote articles on ONE. Are you gonna go to an MMA website, right?” Sityodtong said when asked about Bloody Elbow’s initial report. “So that just on that level, but on the bigger picture level, okay so it is inaccurate again.”

When asked for specifics about the inaccuracies he is referring to, Chatri Sityodtong danced around the question.

“Go to Bloomberg, go to Financial Times,” Chatri Sityodtong said.

Chatri Sityodtong Gave a Similar Response When Questions About the Promotion’s 2020 Losses

In 2020, the promotion reported an annual loss of more than $47 million. Questioned by Helwani about the report, Chatri Sityodtong once again declined to offer up any explanation and instead insisted was just another situation of a site reporting “inaccuracies and errors.”

“I will say that the internet is a dangerous place and you shouldn’t uh believe everything you read, and there is a lot of factual errors and inaccuracies you know? Uh, but that I mean, um, I’ll just say that we have some big news that I’m announcing and um, that’s, I’ll leave it at that. Some exciting news and yeah, I mean uh I’ll leave it at that. I’ll just say like look, the internet is a dangerous place if you believe everything you read, especially from less than uh… How can I say it politely? I would yeah, I would just leave it at that.”

The “exciting news” Sityodtong was likely referring to in the interview was the promotion’s streaming deal with Amazon Prime Video. ONE partnered with the North American streaming service in early 2022 and held its inaugural event on the platform in August titled ONE on Prime Video 1. Headlining the event was former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson against the reigning ONE flyweight titleholder Adriano Moraes. ‘Mighty Mouse’ captured the ONE world title with a brutal flying knee knockout in the fourth-round.

ONE will be making its long-awaited return to Malaysia for ONE on Prime Video 3 on October 21st with another main event headlined by a former UFC standout, John Lineker. ‘Hands of Stone’ is the reigning ONE bantamweight champion. He meets No. 2 ranked contender Fabricio Andrade in the main event.

ONE Championship details record high $110 million in losses in ACRA filings for 2021

ONE ChampionshipSingapore-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion, ONE Championship, headed up by Chatri Sityodtong, have reported a record-high loss of $110 million in the year 2021 in their annual ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) fillings, increasing their total losses to $383 million.  As per an initial report from Bloody Elbow reporters, Anton Tabuena, and […]

ONE Championship

Singapore-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion, ONE Championship, headed up by Chatri Sityodtong, have reported a record-high loss of $110 million in the year 2021 in their annual ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) fillings, increasing their total losses to $383 million. 

As per an initial report from Bloody Elbow reporters, Anton Tabuena, and John S. Nash, ONE Championship have reported a massive loss of $383 million up until December 31. 2021, with $110 million of those losses reported in that year.

Previously, the promotion’s leader, the aforenoted, Sityodtong, refuted reports of major financial losses for the organization, urging onlookers to take reports with a pinch of salt, as well as maintaining the “truth” will come out over time.

“I’ll just say like look, the internet is a dangerous place if you believe everything you read,” Chatri Sityodtong said. “There was tons of inaccuracies, tons of errors, it’s not even like one or two, if it were just like one or two I would point it out. I mean, like it’s not worth addressing. Again, it’s like I said, um, like, I like to let the truth speak over time.” 

Beyond their record high losses, ONE Championship did, however, report a $67.7 million increase in revenues for 2021, with the majority of that revenue increase of 19% percent on the previous year, coming from broadcast rights. 

ONE Championship recently inked a broadcast deal with Prime Video 

The promotion, who recently inked a broadcast deal with Amazon and Prime Video, parted ways with former UFC lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez of note late last month – with the Philadelphia veteran ending his four-fight tenure with the organization.

ONE Championship is also home to former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson, with the record-setting Kentucky favorite clinching the promotion’s flyweight crown with a spectacular, highlight-reel fourth round flying knee KO win over Adriano Moraes in the pair’s rematch in August.

Tawanchai defeats Petchmorakot to capture ONE featherweight muay thai world title – ONE 161 highlights

TawanchaiIn the main event of ONE 161, No. 1 ranked contender Tawanchai PK. Saenchai defeated featherweight Muay Thai champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee to capture his first ONE world championship on Friday. Much of the opening round was a feeling-out process with both fighters utilizing kicks to keep a safe distance and establish their timing. Both fighters […]

Tawanchai

In the main event of ONE 161, No. 1 ranked contender Tawanchai PK. Saenchai defeated featherweight Muay Thai champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee to capture his first ONE world championship on Friday.

Much of the opening round was a feeling-out process with both fighters utilizing kicks to keep a safe distance and establish their timing. Both fighters began to throw leather in the closing seconds of the first with Petchmorakot landing a solid left to the chin of Tawanchai. From there, the pace picked up with both fighters waging full-on warfare by the time the third round began. It was there that the defending champion began to find his timing and started to let his hands go.

Going into the championship rounds, Petchmorakot appeared to take over by bringing relentless pressure to the challenger. After four rounds of action, the contest looked as even as it gets. Petchmorakot’s pressure continued, but Tawanchai was able to stay out of danger with his solid footwork and crisp counterstriking. With the fifth round essentially a coin flip, it was anyone’s guess as to who would come out on top on the judges’ scorecards.

In the end, Tawanchai was awarded the victory and the title by a razor-thin margin, scoring a split decision victory over Petchmorakot.

Check Out Highlights Below From Petchmorakot vs. Tawanchai at ONE 161

Eddie Alvarez announces free agency as he departs from ONE, PFL hint at interest

Eddie AlvarezFormer UFC lightweight champion and ONE contender Eddie Alvarez has annoucned he is now a free agent and is looking to compete under a new promotional banner. Eddie Alvarez, a true legend of modern MMA, looks like he may well be making his way back to the U.S. ‘The Underground King’ has parted ways with […]

Eddie Alvarez

Former UFC lightweight champion and ONE contender Eddie Alvarez has annoucned he is now a free agent and is looking to compete under a new promotional banner.

Eddie Alvarez, a true legend of modern MMA, looks like he may well be making his way back to the U.S. ‘The Underground King’ has parted ways with ONE Championship, having amassed a record of 1-2-1 during his time with the promotion.

Alvarez took to Twitter to announce his free agency, as well as stating that he is on the lookout for a new hunting ground to ply his trade. He posted the following:

“Confirmed, I am no longer with ONE. We parted ways amicably and I remain on good terms with the ONE team. I want to thank Chatri for the opportunity and I look forward to watching their continued success. I’m officially a free agent and Ready to Hunt. Tell me whose next? UGK.”

PFL appear to hint at interest in signing Eddie Alvarez

A fighter with the resume and caliber of skill that Eddie Alvarez possesses will no doubt have a number of suitors who will attempt to sign him in the coming weeks.

PFL have already hinted that they may be in the market for ‘The Underground King,’ posting the following meme on their Twitter account shortly after Alvarez announced he was parting ways with ONE.

PFL already have a number of former UFC fighters on their roster, especially in Alvarez’s weight class. Anthony Pettis, Stevie Ray and Olivier Aubin-Mercier have all been competing under the PFL banner for the last few years. Jeremy Stephens, Shane Burgos and Don Madge are all also signed to the promotion.

Alvarez would no doubt be an excellent addition to the PFL. The former UFC champ has put on numerous Fight of the Night performances, and has wins over the likes of Justin Gaethje, Rafael dos Anjos and the aforementioned Anthony Pettis.

Would you like to see Eddie Alvarez compete under the PFL banner?

Watch: Demetrious Johnson celebrates ONE Championship title KO with Henry Cejudo

Demetrious Johnson, Henry CejudoDemetrious Johnson called his friend Henry Cejudo after reclaiming the ONE Championship gold at ONE on Prime Video 1. Former UFC champion Johnson got the chance to avenge his loss to former titleholder Adriano Moraes this past Friday in Singapore. The two had previously faced off last year in April, with Moraes scoring a violent […]

Demetrious Johnson, Henry Cejudo

Demetrious Johnson called his friend Henry Cejudo after reclaiming the ONE Championship gold at ONE on Prime Video 1.

Former UFC champion Johnson got the chance to avenge his loss to former titleholder Adriano Moraes this past Friday in Singapore. The two had previously faced off last year in April, with Moraes scoring a violent knee finish to dethrone Johnson. Over a year from their first clash, Johnson defeated Moraes with an impressive fourth-round knockout to become the flyweight champion again.

Demetrious Johnson celebrates ONE Championship title KO with Henry Cejudo

Following the incredible victory, Johnson took the time to FaceTime former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo. Johnson had trained with Cejudo in preparation for the highly-anticipated rematch and expressed his gratitude for Cejudo’s help.

“Bro, what an awesome fight, man,” Cejudo said (ht MMA Fighting). “What an awesome fight.”

“I’m just calling to say ‘What’s up, man?” Johnson said. “Got nothing but love for you. Not gassing you up, but saying good things about you and, you know, it was very appreciative for me to come out and get to work with you. Event though it was a week, two weeks, just to balance things out, vibe out and just—I guess when I came to train with you and you’re like, ‘Dude, you’re nasty in that clinch.’ It’s like, OK, I’m gonna stay with the clinch.”

Cejudo and Johnson shared the octagon on two occasions, with each man getting a win over the other. “Triple C” had expressed his admiration for arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. The respect between them is clear as Cejudo ended the call with a gracious message.

“Respect, man,” Cejudo said. “When you get somebody like that, when you get somebody who has done incredible things in the sport, like, you can’t pay for things like that. I’m honored. I’m honored and I’m extremely gracious.

“This isn’t the ‘King of Cringe.’ This isn’t ‘Triple C.’ This is Henry Cejudo. Crazy.”

Christian Lee smashes Ok Rae Yoon to recapture the ONE lightweight title – ONE 160 Highlights

Christian LeeAfter a controversial decision that crowned Ok Rae Yoon the ONE lightweight world champion just under a year ago, Christian Lee recaptured the lightweight title in an incredibly dominant performance on Friday at ONE 160. ‘The Warrior’ had every intention of keeping it out of the hands of the judges. Hot out of the gate, […]

Christian Lee

After a controversial decision that crowned Ok Rae Yoon the ONE lightweight world champion just under a year ago, Christian Lee recaptured the lightweight title in an incredibly dominant performance on Friday at ONE 160.

‘The Warrior’ had every intention of keeping it out of the hands of the judges. Hot out of the gate, Lee immediately put pressure on the South Korean champion. Ok had his moments early on, but Lee was proving to be the much faster and more powerful striker. Near the two-minute mark of the first round, Lee landed a solid left hook followed by a partially blocked right head kick forcing the champion to retreat. Following Ok to the fence, Lee looked to take advantage, but the South Korean was able to circle out and get himself back to the center.

Continuing to bring the pressure, Christian Lee landed an overhand right followed by a 1-2 combination that dropped Ok near the fence. Following him to the ground, Lee delivered vicious knees to the head of the champion. Ok was able to get back to his feet and create separation until Lee dropped him again with another devastating overhand right. Ok again recovered and backpedaled, his only goal being to survive the opening five minutes.

Christian Lee Puts Ok Rae Yoon Away With a Series of Knees to The Head

Coming out for the second round, Ok Rae Yoon was wearing the damage from the first. Intent on adding to the damage, Christian Lee picked up right where he left off, bringing pressure to the defending champion. Less than a minute into the round, Lee delivered a superman punch-calf kick combination that backed Ok to the fence once again. From there, ‘The Warrior’ once again landed the overhand right, dropping Ok to the mat. Pinning the South Korean to the fence, Lee threw a series of brutal knees to the head of the champion.

With no response from Ok, the referee had no choice, but to step in and call a stop to the action just one minute into the second round. Christian Lee had recaptured the ONE lightweight world championship in an absolutely dominant performance.

During the post-fight interview, Christian Lee discussed his first meeting with Ok Rae Yoon nearly a year ago and the changes he made heading into the main event rematch.

“The biggest mistake I made in the previous fight is when I get into the Circle, I just want to fight. And so I calmed it down a little bit. We laid out a game plan, I stuck to it, I just tried my best to take my shots. Take what was there, not rush anything. And the finish happened on its own.

“The confidence comes from all the hard work. There’s no way to fake it in this game. I said it in the last fight. I thought I won it. At 50%. This is my performance at 100%. Ok Rae Yoon is without a doubt one of the top lightweight fighters in the world. So respect to him. But I knew this is how it’s gonna go down tonight. I knew that the training ang hard work that I put in was going to be enough to get it done. And here I am, I’m happy to be with my baby girls.”

For his performance, Christian Lee was rewarded with a $50,000 bonus. While Lee’s sister Angela Lee, the ONE atomweight world champion was not present at ONE 160, Lee was joined by his wife and daughter inside the ONE Circle to celebrate his new reign as a ONE world champion.