Wikipedia - ONE Championship

ONE Championship, formerly ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is a multinational combat sports promotion founded on 14 July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui. Originally focused on mixed martial arts (MMA), ONE events have since incorporated muay thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling bouts. The promotion held its first event on 3 September 2011 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and has since held over 200 events across Asia. In 2022, parent company One Group Holdings, changed its legal operations from Singapore to the Cayman Islands.

History

Founding and early history: 2011–2014

Chatri Sityodtong, founder, chairman, and CEO of One Championship

Entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong founded One Fighting Championship (ONE FC) in July 2011 to unite Asia through martial arts, leveraging Singapore's infrastructure. The promotion debuted on 3 September 2011 with ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion, selling out the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Key milestones included the first female MMA bout in March 2012 and the crowning of inaugural champions in bantamweight (Soo Chul Kim), lightweight (Kotetsu Boku), featherweight (Honorio Banario), welterweight (Nobutatsu Suzuki), flyweight (Adriano Moraes), and middleweight (Igor Svirid) divisions between 2012 and 2014.

Name change and expansion: 2015–2019

Brandon Vera, Hua Fung Teh, and Mauro Cerilli at a ONE: Conquest of Champions press conference, 2018

Rebranded as ONE Championship in 2015, the promotion expanded into new disciplines and markets. It introduced the strawweight title (Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, 2015), hosted its first Lethwei bout (2015), and crowned heavyweight (Brandon Vera, 2015), light heavyweight (Roger Gracie, 2016), and women's atomweight (Angela Lee, 2016) champions. A historic 2018 trade with the UFC exchanged Ben Askren for Demetrious Johnson. The promotion also launched Muay Thai (Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, 2018) and kickboxing titles (Kai Ting Chuang, 2018), and hosted its sole boxing match (Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. Iran Diaz, 2018).

Further international expansion: 2020–Present

Stamp Fairtex became ONE's first three-sport champion in 2023.

ONE raised 150 million in 2021, reaching a 1.35 billion valuation, and relocated to the Cayman Islands in 2022. It expanded into submission grappling (Mikey Musumeci, 2022) and debuted in the U.S. with ONE Fight Night 10 (2023). Notable milestones included Smilla Sundell becoming the youngest champion (17) in 2022 and a 2023 agreement to host events in Qatar.

ONE Championship is a premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization based in Asia, renowned for showcasing top-tier martial artists from around the globe. Established in 2011, it has quickly risen to prominence as one of the leading MMA promotions, blending a diverse array of martial arts disciplines such as striking, grappling, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and more. Known for its high-octane fights, compelling storylines, and commitment to martial arts values, ONE Championship hosts exhilarating tournaments across Asia, featuring both male and female fighters competing for prestigious titles. The organization emphasizes not only competitive excellence but also respect, discipline, and the cultural heritage of martial arts, making it a unique and influential force in the world of mixed martial arts.