Tag: ONE Championship

ONE Championship targeting mixed-rules clash between Demetrious Johnson and BBJ star Mikey Musumeci

ONE Championship Demetrious Johnson vs. Mikey MusumeciDemetrious Johnson has been out of action ever since he scored a second-straight victory over former flyweight titleholder Adriano…

ONE Championship Demetrious Johnson vs. Mikey Musumeci

Demetrious Johnson has been out of action ever since he scored a second-straight victory over former flyweight titleholder Adriano Moraes at ONE Fight Night 10 in May.

‘Mighty Mouse’ earned a decisive unanimous decision over Moraes, closing out their iconic trilogy with the ONE flyweight world championship firmly wrapped around his waist. Since then, fight fans have been chomping at the bit to find out what would be next for the pound-for-pound great.

During a recent interview with BJPenn.com, ONE CEO and founder Chatri Sityodtong revealed that the promotion has been in talks with Johnson, hoping to coax him back inside the Circle for a mixed-rules bout with reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling titleholder Mikey Musumeci.

“We have been trying to get DJ a mixed-rules fight between DJ and Mikey Musumeci the flyweight grappling world champion,” Sityodtong revealed. “I think that would be a spectacular fight, as well.”

“I think DJ is kind of more in cruise control after having won his last title fight and when he is ready he will let us know when he wants to fight. He says he doesn’t have the burning desire, but he hasn’t retired yet, so I think DJ has a few more fights left in him to further cement his legendary GOAT status” (h/t BJJ DOC).

Musumeci is a five-time IBJJF world champion and currently holds an undefeated record under the ONE banner with wins over reigning ONE strawweight champ Jarred Brooks and Japanese grappling legends Masakazu Imanari and Shinya Aoki.

Over the last year, ‘Darth Rigatoni’ has lobbied for a submission grappling showcase with Demetrious Johnson inside the Circle. He has also begun preparing for a move into MMA.

Sityodtong Hopes a ‘Crazy Mixed-Rules Fight’ will bring Demetrious Johnson back to ONE

Demetrious Johnson is considered to be one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the history of the sport. Winning the UFC’s inaugural flyweight title in 2012, ‘Mighty Mouse’ defended the title an incredible 11 times, besting some of the division’s biggest names, including John Dodson, Kyoji Horiguchi, Joseph Benavidez, and Henry Cejudo.

In 2018, he moved to ONE Championship as part of a historic trade between the two organizations. Johnson immediately made his mark, winning the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Tournament before moving on to his title trilogy with Adriano Moraes.

Of course, you can’t mention DJ’s ONE career without bringing up his historic mixed-rules clash with Muay Thai sensation Rodtang Jitmuangnon. Stepping inside the Circle at the promotion’s 10th-anniversary showcase ONE X in March 2022, Johnson earned a second-round rear-naked choke submission against ‘The Iron Man’ after surviving a barrage of strikes in the opening round.

“He needs some big challenges, maybe some crazy mixed-rules fight,” Sityodtong continued. “He’s the only person in the history of martial arts to win belts in the two biggest and most prestigious organizations, UFC and ONE, and do so in such a legendary way.”

“If you look at his skillset, forget about titles, if you just look at his skillset, he has by far the most complete skillset of any martial artist in the history of mankind, you look at his striking, clinch gane, his wrestling, his transitions, his submission grappling game, he is completely well-rounded without any holds, and then you add in his cardio, for me, he’s the GOAT.”

Bibiano Fernandes Splits with ONE Championship, encourages Fighters to ‘Think twice’ Before going there

Bibiano FernandesBibiano Fernandes has parted ways with ONE Championship. After more than a decade with the Singapore-based promotion, ‘The Flash’…

Bibiano Fernandes

Bibiano Fernandes has parted ways with ONE Championship.

After more than a decade with the Singapore-based promotion, ‘The Flash’ is moving on, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest bantamweights in ONE history. Listed as an 11-time ONE world champion, Fernandes shared the Circle with some of the biggest names in the division, including Kevin Belingon, Reece McLaren, and Martin Nguyen.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Fernandes revealed that his contract with ONE was set to expire in December 2023 and he was notified that the promotion would not offer him a new deal.

“I wasn’t mad at them,” Fernandes said. “Do I think they could have offered me more fights? One-hundred percent. I was out for three years basically and they could have offered me more fights. Was I a bit upset? I was, but that’s life. Many people in the world work hard, give their lives for the company they work for, and in the end [the company] owners say ‘Thank you for your work,’ and that’s it. I was sad, but what can I do? Life goes on.”

After making a name for himself under the DREAM banner, Fernandes signed with ONE Championship in 2012. A year later, he claimed the promotion’s bantamweight world championship and successfully defended it eight times throughout two separate reigns.

He surrendered the strap for the second and final time to John Lineker in March 2022. He lost a second straight bout against Stephen Loman at ONE on Prime Video 4 in November that same year.

Bibiano Fernandes was offered a fight at ONE 165 in January

Fernandes said he was offered a fight with Japanese MMA icon Shinya Aoki at the promotion’s event in Japan next year, but the organization recently announced that Aoki would be taking on ‘Super’ Sage Northcutt instead.

“Only I know what I went through,” Fernandes said. “My run at ONE, I think no one will replicate what I’ve done there. No one will defend the title as many times. I’ve worked for them for 11 years. So many difficulties there, but there’s a point in life I was like, ‘No, wait a minute.’ There are many things I don’t agree with, but still had to go through. I’m a mixed martial arts fighter but they’re doing business. They only think about business, you know? What can I do?”

Unfortunately, Fernandes was unable to go into details regarding ONE Championship’s business practices and negotiation tactics because “there are clauses in my contract saying I can’t speak or they can come after me.” However, he did offer some advice to fighters, saying:

“Many athletes go through difficulties. If you’re a fighter and you’re thinking about fighting for ONE Championship, brother, think twice before you decide to go there. You have to be very careful. Athletes have to think before — you want to fight there? Go, brother, but there’s a moment in life where you have to make decisions about whether or not this is what you really want.”

ONE Championship walks back a desk job offer made in 2017

Bibiano Fernandes inked a new deal with ONE Championship in February 2017, a few months removed from a split decision victory over Reece McLaren to defend his bantamweight title. According to the Brazilian, the contract included a job for him to work behind the scenes once he hung up his four-ounce gloves for good. According to Fernandes, the promotion rescinded that offer.

“There are things I wanted [to say] but I can’t say much because they might come at me,” Fernandes said. “I was supposed to be an ambassador for the promotion, but that didn’t happen. And thinking about it now, it’s for the best. I believe a lot in energy. If the energy isn’t there, I don’t need to force anything. If they don’t see what I’ve done for the organization, there’s nothing I can do.”

“When I received the letter, I wasn’t mad,” he added. “I felt free, you know? I felt like part of my soul came back to me. … I can’t be with a person, I can’t be in a place where they don’t see things the way I see it. You have your peak in the sport, and they’re smart during that peak. They held me back a lot. I could be fighting. There are things you have to be chill and just accept, let my history speak for me.”

Fernandes, 43, is 24-6 in his mixed martial arts career. He had won 10 straight fights inside the Circle before a split decision loss to Kevin Belingon at ONE: Heart of the Lion in 2018. He regained the title four months later in a rematch.

Nico Carrillo Smashes Nong-O with vicious elbow, scores second round KO – ONE Friday Fights 46 highlights

Nico Carrillo vs. Nong-OScottish standout Nico Carrillo scored the biggest win of his Muay Thai career at ONE Friday Fights 46. Emanating…

Nico Carrillo vs. Nong-O

Scottish standout Nico Carrillo scored the biggest win of his Muay Thai career at ONE Friday Fights 46.

Emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, fans witnessed the rise of a new contender in ONE’s bantamweight Muay Thai division as the ‘King of the North’ scored a brutal second-round knockout against former titleholder Nong-O Hama.

Things started as expected with Nong-O chopping away at the leg of Carrillo throughout the first three minutes. As the opening round came to a close, the Scot’s lead leg was clearly compromised, but that didn’t stop him from pressing on and putting pressure on the Thai in the second stanza.

Pressuring Nong-O against the ropes, Carrillo unleashed a flurry of strikes forcing Nong-O to circle out. As he did, Carrillo continued his pursuit, once again putting the former champ in the opposite corner and unleashing a vicious elbow that put Nong-O on the canvas. Unable to answer the standing eight-count, the referee called for the stoppage, handing Carrillo his third-straight win under the ONE Championship banner.

Official Result: Nico Carrillo def. Nong-O Hama via KO (elbow) at 1:28 of Round 2.

Speaking with Mitch Chilson following his impressive win, Nico Carrillo called out the reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai titleholder. “Tick tock, tick tock. Jonathan Haggerty, I’m coming for that belt,” he said.

Check Out Highlights From Nico Carrillo vs. Nong-O Hama at ONE Friday Fights 46:

Ex-UFC star Sage Northcutt books return at ONE Championship 165, takes on Shinya Aoki in retirement fight

Sage Northcutt makes return at ONE Championship 165 takes on Shinya Aoki retirement fightFormer UFC welterweight, Sage Northcutt will begin next year back inside the cage, taking on veteran Japanese grappler, Shina…

Sage Northcutt makes return at ONE Championship 165 takes on Shinya Aoki retirement fight

Former UFC welterweight, Sage Northcutt will begin next year back inside the cage, taking on veteran Japanese grappler, Shina Aoki at a ONE Championship 165 event on January 28. in Tokyo, as the latter prepares for his slated retirement fight. 

Northcutt, 27, most recently turned in a blistering first round heel hook submission win over Ahmed Mujtaba in ONE Championship’s debut on North American soil back in May in Colorado, earning a Performance of the Night bonus.

The victory came as Northcutt’s sophomore outing under the banner of the Chatri Sityodtong-led banner, having suffered a devastating 29-second KO loss to Brazilian kickboxing ace, Cosmo Alexandre back in 2019, suffering multiple facial fractures in the first round loss, sidelining him for over three years.

As for Aoki, the veteran Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon has been sidelined himself from mixed martial arts since November of last year, dropping his second consecutive loss in the form of a first round knockout loss to Saygid Izagakhmaev, which came off the back of a TKO loss to compatriot, Yoshihiro ‘Sexyama’. January’s outing with Northcutt is expected to come as Aoki’s final in mixed martial arts competition.

Sage Northcutt takes on Shinya Aoki at ONE Championship 165

ONE Championship confirmed the pairing of Sage Northcutt and Shinya Aoki overnight on their official social media, which followed the confirmation of a stunning bout between Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Takeru Segawa.

“IT’S ON,” ONE Championship posted on their official X account. “Japanese legend Shinya Aoki faces off with American superstar Sage Northcutt on January 28. In Tokyo.

12-3 as a professional, over the course of his naive mixed martial arts career, former top-prospect, Northcutt has dropped losses to just the above-mentioned, Alexandre, and during his Octagon tenure, Mickey Gall, and Bryan Barberena.

Making his Octagon debut back in 2015, Northcutt turned in UFC victories over the likes of Cody Pfister, and Thibault Gouti, before scoring a second round KO win over Zak Ottow in his final appearance back in 2018, before making a move to ONE Championship.

47-11(1) as a professional, veteran grappling phenom, Aoki has competed for the likes of DEEP, Shooto, Pride, DREAM, Strikeforce, Bellator, Rizin, and ONE Championship during his storied career. And has recorded wins over the likes of George Sotiropoulos, Caol Uno, Eddie Alvarez, Mizuto Hirota, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Kazushi Sakaraba, and Eduard Folayang to name a few. 

Who wins at ONE Championship 165: Sage Northcutt or Shinya Aoki?

Former Bellator Exec Says ONE Championship Has ‘Scammed Everybody They Could’ to Stay Afloat

ONE ChampionshipONE Championship’s future is once again in question. Earlier this month, a report from DealStreetAsia revealed that the Singapore-based…

ONE Championship

ONE Championship’s future is once again in question.

Earlier this month, a report from DealStreetAsia revealed that the Singapore-based promotion had made a new pitch to the Qatar Investment Authority in hopes of securing another round of funding. Qatar, a major investor of ONE, had reportedly contributed $50 million of a $150 million round of funding in 2021, so there’s nothing terribly unusual with ONE attempting to secure more investment capital from the government’s sovereign wealth fund.

However, that same report alleged that, according to one source, “ONE’s runway is expected to expire by Q3 of next year,” and that “the Qataris have been increasingly embarrassed about their involvement with ONE, which has been under the spotlight for its weak financials.”

ONE Championship’s financial status is often the source of confusion and controversy with founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong often throwing out outlandish numbers that contradict its filings with Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Could ONE Championship Close Up Shop in 2024?

Former Bellator Executive, Mike Kogan recently shared his take on ONE Championship’s seemingly dire situation as he awaits news of his own future following the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator earlier this month.

“I’ve been at this sport for a long time,” Kogan said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t have it in me to start from scratch. There just isn’t anybody else. If you don’t go to PFL, obviously, I’m not getting hired by the UFC, ONE FC pissed away $600 million and is about to go out of business, where do you go?

“They’re gonna go out of business,” he continued. “These people scammed everybody they could scam. They’ve run out of people to scam. It’s the truth. I mean come on. 10 years. You can’t be a start-up for 10 years. Jesus Christ. At some point, you’ve got to start showing something.

“So, they’re gonna go out, so where’s there to go? There’s nowhere else to go. I’ve always said, this is like the largest small industry in the world. It’s big, it’s on TV, there’s millionaires being made, there’s all these stories, but at the end, it’s a handful of people that run it and a handful of people that have an ability to do anything with it.”

Kogan and the rest of the Bellator staff will all be offered new roles in PFL, according to the promotion’s founder, Donn Davis. The Bellator brand is expected to live on as an international offering, but all of the contracted athletes will be allowed to compete at PFL events, including in regular season tournaments.

A pay-per-view event featuring Bellator champions vs. PFL champions is expected to go down in 2024.

Demetrious Johnson ranks himself #2 in GOAT conversation, ex-UFC star claims ‘Nobody has been able to do what I’ve done’

Demetrious Johnson ranks himself as #2 in GOAT list claims nobody has done what I've done UFCRanked atop the list of many’s greatest fighters of all time, former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has…

Demetrious Johnson ranks himself as #2 in GOAT list claims nobody has done what I've done UFC

Ranked atop the list of many’s greatest fighters of all time, former undisputed UFC flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has left himself off the top spot in his own respective list – naming incumbent heavyweight best, Jon Jones as his greatest fighter to ever compete.

Johnson, a record-setting former UFC flyweight champion and the current ONE Championship flyweight gold holder, has been sidelined since he took home a trilogy rubber match win over Brazilian ace, Adriano Moraes with a unanimous decision win in their decider back in May. 

Weighing up his immediate fighting future in the aftermath of his judging win, Kentucky native, Johnson, who turned in a record-setting 11 consecutive successful defenses of his undisputed flyweight title during his historic, gold-laden tenure with the UFC, departed the orgazniation in a swap-deal with Ben Askren back in late 2018. 

Demetrious Johnson provides his GOAT list

Finding himself ranked atop lists of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time ahead of the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, and even the above-mentioned, Jones – Johnson claims he should only rank number two in any sort of list, including his own. 

“At number two, you have yours truly,” Demetrious Johnson said on his official YouTube channel. “Nobody has been able to do what I’ve been able to do in the flyweight division or in any division. 11 consecutive title defenses, created a brand-new move that none of you guys ever seen, the ‘Mighty Wizbar’ shout to Matt Hume helping me learn that move. I have wins by knockout, submission, gone to a decision, gone to a split draw, whatever you want to call it.”

“For my number one, I have Jon ‘Bones’ Jones,” Demetrious Johnson explained. “That is the only man I’ll put ahead of me because this man, I feel like any single time he has been inside the cage he could just destory his opponent however he wanted. He also has wins by knockout, putting people to sleep, decisions, everything on the list.”

Where would you rank Demetrious Johnson on your own list of MMA GOATs?