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ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history and one of the fastest-growing combat sports organizations in the world. Founded in 2011, ONE has built a unique identity around a distinctive ruleset, a roster that includes some of the greatest martial arts champions on the planet, and a vision for MMA and striking sports that is distinctly Asian in character. Here’s everything you need to know about ONE Championship.

History and Background

ONE Championship was founded by Chatri Sityodtong in Singapore in 2011. The organization started as a relatively small regional MMA promotion but has grown into a multi-sport combat sports company with events in MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, submission grappling, and striking competitions. It is broadcast in over 190 countries.

The promotion’s growth was accelerated by a series of major signings, including legendary fighters like Demetrious Johnson (who left the UFC after being traded for Ben Askren), Eddie Alvarez, and Rodtang Jitmuangnon. These acquisitions announced to the global combat sports community that ONE was a major organization with the budget and ambition to compete for the world’s best talent.

ONE Championship Rules

ONE Championship uses a distinctive ruleset that differs from both the UFC’s Unified Rules and most other major promotions:

• Hydration testing — ONE Championship prohibits extreme weight cutting. Instead of allowing fighters to cut large amounts of weight and rehydrate, ONE tests fighter hydration levels in the week before the fight. Fighters who fail hydration testing are fined or cannot compete, forcing them to fight closer to their natural weight.
• Clean athlete standards — ONE emphasizes drug-free competition and tests regularly.
• Scoring emphasis — ONE’s judging places heavy emphasis on damage and finishing, which judges are instructed to prioritize over activity and control. This produces more aggressive fights, as passive fighting is less rewarded.
• No shoes — Fighters compete barefoot, as in traditional martial arts.

ONE Championship’s Sports

ONE Championship is unique in running multiple disciplines under one roof:

MMA

ONE’s MMA roster includes multiple weight classes from strawweight to heavyweight. Champions like Demetrious Johnson (at flyweight) and Reinier de Ridder (at middleweight and light heavyweight) brought global star power to the organization.

Muay Thai

ONE Championship has assembled the deepest roster of Muay Thai champions in history, including Rodtang Jitmuangnon (flyweight), who is considered one of the most exciting Muay Thai fighters of his generation. Its Muay Thai events are broadcast globally and have significantly elevated the sport’s international profile.

Kickboxing

ONE has also invested heavily in kickboxing, with a roster of world champions across multiple weight classes. The promotion’s kickboxing product follows K-1 style rules and features some of the best kickboxers in the world.

Notable ONE Championship Fighters

• Demetrious Johnson — Perhaps the greatest MMA fighter pound-for-pound of all time. Johnson joined ONE in 2018 after breaking the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses at flyweight. His technical excellence and submission offense at ONE have continued to impress.
• Rodtang Jitmuangnon — The Iron Man is one of the most exciting Muay Thai fighters in the world, known for an aggressive style that makes his fights must-watch events.
• Reinier de Ridder — The Dutch submission specialist held both the ONE middleweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously, an unprecedented achievement.
• Angela Lee — The Canadian-American strawweight champion was one of ONE’s biggest stars, capturing the title at 19 years old.

ONE Championship vs. UFC

Comparisons between ONE and the UFC are inevitable but often misframe the relationship. The UFC is the world’s dominant MMA organization by any financial metric. ONE is primarily an Asian organization with different goals, different markets, and a different vision for combat sports.

ONE’s advantages include its Muay Thai and kickboxing content (which the UFC does not have), its hydration testing system (which is widely praised as a more athlete-friendly approach to weight classes), and its deep roots in Asian combat sports culture. For fans who want to see the world’s best Muay Thai competition alongside MMA, ONE Championship is essential viewing.

How to Watch ONE Championship

ONE Championship events are available through multiple platforms. In the United States, ONE has had partnerships with Amazon Prime Video for free streaming of selected events. The organization’s own app and website provide access to their content library, and events are broadcast on cable networks in multiple regions.

For MMA fans who have only followed the UFC, exploring ONE Championship’s catalog — particularly the Muay Thai events and Demetrious Johnson’s output — opens up a world of elite combat sports content from a distinctly different cultural perspective.