ONE Championship returned to Bangkok to kick off a massive event week with a live press conference for ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov, which was held at the W Hotel.
In attendance was ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and Managing Director of ONE Championship Thailand Prem Busarabavonwongs.
They were joined by the top athletes competing at the event, including reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn and his opponent, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Champion Chingiz Allazov.
As well as ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci, ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and former two-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex, among others.
Sityodtong announced the ONE Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, which will pit 16 of the best Muay Thai athletes from around the world against each other to compete for a US$1,000,000 grand prize.
In addition, the promotion also paid tribute to 18-year-old martial arts prodigy Victoria Lee, who tragically passed away in late December.
After a moment of silence to honor the late Victoria Lee, Sityodtong made a series of major announcements. Here is everything that he announced during the ONE Fight Night 6 press con.
Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix With US$1,000,000 On The Line
True to its promise to elevate Muay Thai to unprecedented new heights, ONE will host its biggest and most ambitious tournament yet with pride, glory, and riches on the line.
Sityodtong announced the historic ONE Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix, where 16 of the best strikers on the planet will collide for a US$1,000,000 grand prize.
“Fans all over the world, please tell me who you wanna see. Do you wanna see Superbon? Do you wanna see Rodtang? Who do you wanna see because this is an Openweight Grand Prix.”
Sityodtong exclaimed “I promise you this will blow up the sport all over the world. With our global broadcast, people will be tuning in from all over the world. The very best – the very, very, very best, irrespective of weight class – Muay Thai World Champions will be competing. Sixteen of the world’s best.”
ONE Championship To Donate 10 Million Baht To Small Muay Thai Gyms In Thailand
The organization may be hosting its first-ever ONE Lumpinee card next week and Sityodtong may have announced the ONE Openweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix moments earlier at the press conference, but his mission to elevate the striking art doesn’t stop there.
Sityodtong also said that he wants to make an impact on the grassroots level in Thailand through an immensely generous donation of THB 10 million (US$299,102) for struggling gyms all over the country.
“I’m making a 10 million baht donation. I’m doing a Thailand tour to the smallest gyms all over Thailand. We are doing this on January 28th.
Sityodtong stated “The week of January 28th, myself, our managing director Khun Prem [Busarabavonwongs], Khun Dang (General Suchart Dangprapai) from the Royal Thai Army, Plai [Jitinat], our president from Thailand, and myself, we’ll be doing a Thailand tour all over Thailand to donate 10 million baht to revive all the smaller gyms and smaller camps. And this is just the start. You’ll see.”
Stamp To Fight Meksen For Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title
The rivalry between Stamp Fairtex and Anissa Meksen will continue to intensify after their mixed rules super-fight this weekend.
Sityodtong announced that the two female strikers will vie for the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title. If all goes well, the high-stakes matchup could take place as soon as next month.
The ONE Chairman and CEO said: “Today, I’m announcing the Interim Kickboxing World Title fight. After their fight on Saturday, they will face each other – either February if they’re injury-free, if not, then March.”
ONE Fight Night 6 Quotes
Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “ONE Championship is launching the greatest era in the history of Muay Thai, with the Mecca, the pinnacle, the greatest stadium, and one of the most iconic fighting arenas in the world — the Mecca of Muay Thai — Lumpinee Stadium.”
“We are going to change, not only Muay Thai all over the world, [but also] we are going to elevate and inspire 70 million countrymen with our heroes and showcase Muay Thai around the world, every week, live in primetime in Thailand, broadcast live to 179 countries around the world.
Taking it to the next level and making Muay Thai a truly legitimate World Championship sport that the entire planet can enjoy.”
“We have the very best kickboxers in every division. We have the very best Muay Thai fighters in every division as well.
The very best of the best are here, so there is no easy fight. If you want to fight the best of the best, there’s only one place, and it’s in ONE.”
Superbon Singha Mawynn, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion, stated: “I’m very honored and happy that people think of me [as the best fighter in the world].
However, for me, I still think that there’s a lot of other strikers who are above me or who I have to fight before I can fully say that I accept this title.”
“My advantage is that I’m fighting at home, I’m fighting in Thailand.
When it comes to speed and power, I also have the advantage on that as well. I also have a lot of support from my Thai fans in Thailand.”
Chingiz Allazov, ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Champion, stated: “I say, a long time I waited for this fight. A long time we waited for this fight, my team waited.
The first time I had a problem. After my COVID problem, then it was Superbon. But now, it’s time.”
“I know Superbon is a good fighter. He has an individual style, he has a real Thai style, and he has a universal style.
But I like this. I make many kicks, I make many punches, knees. For me, no problem.”
“I waited for this day, I’m focused one hundred percent.”
With such huge news dropping at the ONE Fight Night 6 Press conference, all eyes will now be on the fighters.
Image Credit ONE Championship
