ONE Championship is the largest sports media company in Asian history.
It was founded in August 2011 by billionaire entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong, to provide a platform for mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters across the Asian region. Prior to founding One Championship, Sityodtong had a long history in the world of martial arts.
He started training in Muay Thai at six years old and eventually became a Kru and a National Champion of the sport. He also holds a Harvard MBA and has experience in venture capital and private equity.
The Birth of ONE Championship
Sityodtong originally had the idea to establish an MMA promotion in Asia in 2002. However, the global MMA scene was not yet mature enough to support a new promotion. It took several years for the sport to gain traction and gain a sizable following.
In 2011, Sityodtong saw an opportunity to establish a world-class MMA promotion in Asia. He believed that Asians would become huge fans of the sport, just as they are passionate about boxing and other combat sports.
Realizing that Asia needed a homegrown MMA promotion that would help to showcase the best fighters in the region, in a way that would resonate with Asian audiences. The idea was twofold: to produce world-class MMA events and to build a digital platform for delivering the content.
Sityodtong knew that if he could create a platform that could reach millions of fans through their smartphones, he would have a competitive advantage that few other promoters had.
From Dream to Reality
Having a clear vision for what One Championship would be. He wanted to establish an MMA promotion that was different from anything else that had come before it. Sityodtong saw One Championship as a celebration of martial arts, not just a showcase for MMA fighters.
The company would focus on what Sityodtong called “values-based” martial arts. This meant that One Championship fighters would be expected to embody values like respect, honor, discipline, and courage, both inside and outside the cage.
Setting a Standard
To help promote these values, One Championship established a set of rules and regulations for its fighters. These rules prohibited trash-talking, disrespecting opponents or officials, and other unsportsmanlike behavior.
One Championship also encouraged its fighters to participate in charity work and to act as role models for their communities. The promotion grew quickly after its founding. In the early years, the company was focused on building relationships with MMA gyms and fighters in Asia.
Sityodtong travelled extensively to meet with fighters, coaches, and gym owners, to convince them to join the One Championship roster.
Becoming a Reality
In the first year of operation, One Championship announced its first event, which was held in Singapore. The event was called “Champion vs. Champion” and featured a lineup of some of the best fighters in Asia. The event was a success, and One Championship quickly began planning for more events in other Asian countries.
One Championship’s early success was also due to its business model. The company focused on building strong partnerships with local media companies, broadcasters, and sponsors in each country where it held events. This helped to ensure that its events would have a wide audience and generate significant revenue.
One Championship also recognized the importance of social media and digital marketing in promoting its events. The company invested heavily in building a digital platform that would deliver high-quality video content to MMA fans across the region.
Partnership
One Championship’s growth accelerated in 2014, when the company announced a partnership with Singapore-based investment firm Temasek Holdings. The partnership provided One Championship with additional funding and resources to expand its operations and increase the quality of its events.
Key to Success
A key factors in One Championship’s success has been its ability to attract top MMA talent from around the world.
The company has signed high-profile fighters like former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, and Vitor Belfort, as well as Asian MMA stars like Angela Lee, Shinya Aoki, and Eduard Folayang.
Another factor in One Championship’s success has been its focus on creating a unique viewing experience for MMA fans.
ONE Championship and Tradition
One Championship events are not just about the fights. They are also about celebrating Asian culture and promoting martial arts values. Each event features a range of ceremonies, performances, and cultural displays that highlight the rich heritage of martial arts in Asia.
One Championship also uses innovative production techniques, like augmented reality and virtual reality, to enhance the viewer experience.
Growth
One of the defining moments in One Championship’s history came in 2018, when the company announced a landmark media partnership with Facebook. This partnership made One Championship the first-ever sports league to broadcast its events live on the social media platform. The partnership with Facebook has helped One Championship to reach millions of MMA fans around the world.
The company has also expanded its digital platform to include a mobile app, which offers live streaming of events, as well as on-demand video content.
ONE Championship Lumpinee Stadium
On the 12th of September 2022, ONE Championship and the Royal Thai Army announced a partnership to produce a new weekly live show titled “ONE Lumpinee” at an official press conference at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
It was announced at the press conference, ONE planned to host 52 live events in Thailand in 2023, with each being broadcast around the world in over 150 countries through ONE’s expansive global media rights partnerships.
The landmark partnership will no doubt help transform Muay Thai and the martial arts ecosystem in Thailand into a global attraction, while establishing Lumpinee Stadium as the Mecca of Muay Thai and the premier hub of sports entertainment and tourism in the country through world-class martial arts competitions produced by ONE.
Broadcast Deals
On the 28th April 2022, Prime Video and ONE Championship announced a multi-year agreement for Prime Video to broadcast 12 live ONE Championship martial arts events annually. The full live events are available exclusively on Prime Video in the United States and Canada.
ONE once again gave the fans a huge event for its debut on Amazon Prime, with ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II. The promotion’s debut on the massive streaming platform aired live on U.S. primetime on August 26.
What’s Next for ONE Championship?
Today, One Championship is the largest sports media company in Asian history.
The company holds events in countries across the region, including Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and as of May the 5th 2023 will make their debut in the USA.
If we have seen one thing during this incredible journey it’s that, when Chatri Sityodtong has a vision it will become a reality.
