https://www.scmp.com/rss/502448/feed Tom Taylor has covered combat sports for Vice, Ozy, Maxim, BJpenn.com, Bleacher Report, Complex and other publications. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Jonathan Haggerty’s recent knockout victory over Fabricio Andrade came as a shock to many ONE Championship fans, but for Hiroki Akimoto, the fight went more or less as expected. In fact, there was only one thing that really surprised him about the way the action unfolded: he expected both men to be faster. “I expected a fast fight because... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3241424/one-championship-hiroki-akimoto-targeting-jonathan-haggerty-kickboxing-title-shot-tokyo-it-has-be-me?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3241424/one-championship-hiroki-akimoto-targeting-jonathan-haggerty-kickboxing-title-shot-tokyo-it-has-be-me?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2023 02:09:57 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Jonathan Haggerty is now a world champion in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. The British bantamweight won Muay Thai gold with a stunning knockout of Nong-O Hama earlier this year, and in the main event of Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 16 card in Bangkok, claimed the promotion’s vacant bantamweight kickboxing belt with a win over MMA champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3240319/one-championship-fight-night-16-live-results-and-highlights-haggerty-and-andrade-battle-kickboxing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3240319/one-championship-fight-night-16-live-results-and-highlights-haggerty-and-andrade-battle-kickboxing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Nov 2023 23:00:47 +0000 Tye Ruotolo will finally have the opportunity to compete for a ONE Championship grappling title this Saturday – but calls for a mouthwatering match-up with Mikey Musumeci still persist. The rising American star will take on Russia’s Magomed Abdulkadirov in the co-main event of the ONE Fight Night 16 card in Bangkok’s famed Lumpinee Stadium, with the inaugural welterweight submission grappling title on the line. It is an opportunity he has desired since he arrived in ONE early last year,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3240164/one-championship-tye-ruotolo-open-mikey-musumeci-match-admits-i-prefer-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3240164/one-championship-tye-ruotolo-open-mikey-musumeci-match-admits-i-prefer-not?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Nov 2023 02:27:48 +0000 Jihin Radzuan was very impressed by Stamp Fairtex’s latest ONE Championship title win – but insists she it not thinking about a rematch yet. Thailand’s Stamp (11-2), who previously held ONE’s atomweight kickboxing and Muay Thai titles, became the promotion’s undisputed atomweight MMA champion with a TKO victory over South Korean veteran Ham Seo-hee at ONE Fight Night 14 late last month in Singapore. Malaysia’s Radzuan (9-3) lost a decision to the new champion almost a year earlier to the day,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3238312/one-championship-jihin-radzuan-responds-stamp-fairtex-rematch-talk-very-impressed-title-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3238312/one-championship-jihin-radzuan-responds-stamp-fairtex-rematch-talk-very-impressed-title-win?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:19:27 +0000 Jarred Brooks and Joshua Pacio’s ONE Championship rematch could be headed to Tokyo. The two strawweight mixed martial artists first met on Pacio’s home soil, in Manila, the Philippines. Brooks beat Pacio by unanimous decision to claim ONE’s strawweight MMA belt, but the fight was competitive enough that the American promptly offered his rival a rematch, provided Pacio was willing to make the flight to the United States. There seemed to be a reasonable chance of that happening given ONE’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237509/one-championship-chatri-eyes-jarred-brooks-vs-joshua-pacio-title-rematch-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237509/one-championship-chatri-eyes-jarred-brooks-vs-joshua-pacio-title-rematch-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Oct 2023 02:19:41 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Thanh Le was full of self doubt before his latest ONE Championship appearance, but it was impossible to tell based on his performance. The Vietnamese-American, ONE’s former featherweight MMA champ, returned to the ring in the main event of Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 15 card in Bangkok. He was matched up with the No 3-ranked contender Ilya... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237201/one-championship-fight-night-15-thanh-le-felt-ilya-freymanovs-knee-rip-and-his-own-self-doubts-62?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237201/one-championship-fight-night-15-thanh-le-felt-ilya-freymanovs-knee-rip-and-his-own-self-doubts-62?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Oct 2023 05:05:35 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing king Jonathan Di Bella insisted he is open to a blockbuster bout with Takeru Segawa, as long as the Japanese superstar is willing to meet him at a catchweight. The Italian-Canadian champion returned to action in the co-main event of Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 15 event in Bangkok, where he defended his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237193/one-championship-jonathan-di-bella-wants-takeru-fight-after-kickboxing-masterclass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237193/one-championship-jonathan-di-bella-wants-takeru-fight-after-kickboxing-masterclass?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Oct 2023 02:37:40 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. On the back of a dramatic return to Singapore, ONE Championship made a quick turnaround and got back to action at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. There were two titles on the line on Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 15, with an interim featherweight MMA champion being crowned in the main event. ONE: fans question Tawanchai win,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237138/one-championship-fight-night-15-results-updates-and-highlights-thanh-le-faces-ilya-freymanov?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3237138/one-championship-fight-night-15-results-updates-and-highlights-thanh-le-faces-ilya-freymanov?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Oct 2023 22:59:25 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Stamp Fairtex finished Ham Seo-hee with a body-shot KO in the third round of their ONE Championship clash in Singapore, to become the promotion’s new undisputed atomweight MMA queen. It was upgraded from an interim belt after Angela Lee confirmed her retirement from fighting, before the ONE Fight Night 14 main event at Singapore Indoor... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236358/one-championship-fight-night-14-live-results-updates-and-highlights-stamp-fairtex-faces-ham-seo-hee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236358/one-championship-fight-night-14-live-results-updates-and-highlights-stamp-fairtex-faces-ham-seo-hee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2023 22:03:26 +0000 Allycia Hellen Rodrigues has made a huge sacrifice ahead of her bid for a second Muay Thai title at this Saturday’s ONE Championship Fight Night 14 event in Singapore. The Thailand-based Brazilian, who holds ONE’s atomweight Muay Thai title, is set to challenge Smilla Sundell for the promotion’s strawweight belt in the card’s co-main event. It is an opportunity that required her to miss her son’s second birthday. “I came with a lot of motivation, as you can see, because today is my son’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236209/one-championship-fight-night-14-allycia-rodrigues-breaks-down-tears-after-missing-sons-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236209/one-championship-fight-night-14-allycia-rodrigues-breaks-down-tears-after-missing-sons-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2023 02:42:06 +0000 It will be Stamp Fairtex and Ham Seo-hee’s names on the marquee at this Saturday’s ONE Championship Fight Night 14 event in Singapore, but ahead of the event, many eyes are locked on Angela Lee. Lee, ONE’s undisputed atomweight MMA champion, has been out of action since her sister Victoria, also a ONE fighter, took her own life last December. The champion’s fighting future has been uncertain since that tragedy, which is what led ONE to book an interim atomweight title fight between Thailand’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236062/one-championship-fight-night-14-stamp-fairtex-and-ham-seo-hee-wish-angela-lee-well-ahead-interim-mma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236062/one-championship-fight-night-14-stamp-fairtex-and-ham-seo-hee-wish-angela-lee-well-ahead-interim-mma?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2023 03:03:00 +0000 Nobody was more surprised by the reception that Rodtang Jitmuangnon got in the United States than the ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai champion himself. The Thai, 25, had his first fight on US soil at ONE Fight Night 10 last Friday in Denver, Colorado – also the Singapore-based martial art’s promotion’s debut in the country. He retained his belt with a devastating second-round knockout of Mexico’s Edgar Tabares, which drove the crowd inside the host 1stBank Centre into a frenzy of excitement... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3220002/one-championship-rodtang-shocked-fan-reception-us-eyes-takeru-fight-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3220002/one-championship-rodtang-shocked-fan-reception-us-eyes-takeru-fight-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 May 2023 23:42:19 +0000 Stamp Fairtex is not worried about Ham Seo-hee. The Thai, ONE Championship’s No 1-ranked atomweight contender, was back in action at Friday’s ONE Fight Night 10 event in Denver, where she stopped Alyse Anderson with a second-round body shot. The victory set her up for a fight with South Korea’s Ham – the division’s No 2 contender – with an interim belt on the line. She is ready for that opportunity, but believes it will be an easier challenge than her 2022 title fight with undisputed atomweight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219663/one-championship-stamp-fairtex-thinks-angela-lee-much-tougher-interim-title-opponent-ham-seo-hee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219663/one-championship-stamp-fairtex-thinks-angela-lee-much-tougher-interim-title-opponent-ham-seo-hee?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 May 2023 23:53:54 +0000 ONE Championship’s Demetrious Johnson plans to consult two of the most accomplished athletes in MMA history as he deliberates over his future in the sport. The American returned to action in the main event of ONE Fight Night 10 on Friday night in Denver, Colorado – the promotion’s first event in his home country – and defended the promotion’s flyweight MMA title with a hard-fought unanimous-decision victory over his long time rival Adriano Moraes. Ahead of the fight, Johnson suggested several... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219657/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-says-he-will-consult-georges-st-pierre-khabib-nurmagomedov?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219657/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-says-he-will-consult-georges-st-pierre-khabib-nurmagomedov?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 May 2023 18:57:20 +0000 ONE Championship Fight Night 10 – the Singapore-based promotion’s debut on US soil – went down on Friday night in Denver, Colorado. The 11-bout card was topped by a flyweight MMA title fight, with American champion Demetrious Johnson defending his belt against Brazil’s Adriano Moraes. It was the third time the pair met in the ONE Circle, having scored a highlight-reel knockout apiece in their first two fights. It was a competitive fight, but Johnson ultimately won it by unanimous decision to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219603/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-results-highlights-demetrious-johnson-rodtang-defend-titles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219603/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-results-highlights-demetrious-johnson-rodtang-defend-titles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2023 22:27:35 +0000 Demetrious Johnson signalled he was ready to put an end to his ONE Championship rivalry with Adriano Moraes as he soaked up the raucous atmosphere at Thursday’s ONE Fight night 10 ceremonial weigh-ins and face offs in Denver, Colorado. The two flyweight mixed martial artists have met twice before, scoring a highlight-reel knockout win apiece. They will meet for a third time in Friday’s main event, with Johnson’s coveted gold belt on the line. It will most likely be the last time they collide in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219460/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-fired-raucous-denver-face-offs-vowing-tomorrow-we-finish-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219460/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-fired-raucous-denver-face-offs-vowing-tomorrow-we-finish-it?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2023 04:16:06 +0000 ONE Championship will make its debut on US soil with a stacked event in Denver, Colorado this Friday, but it will do so without two of its biggest stars: Hawaii-based siblings Angela and Christian Lee. Angela and Christian’s absence from the card is no surprise. Their 18-year-old sister Victoria – also a ONE fighter – died last December, and the siblings and their family have been in mourning ever since. Speaking to the Post after Wednesday’s ONE Fight Night 10 pre-fight press conference, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219437/one-championship-chatri-has-not-talked-fights-all-angela-christian-lee-their-absence-felt-us-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219437/one-championship-chatri-has-not-talked-fights-all-angela-christian-lee-their-absence-felt-us-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 23:30:12 +0000 Jackie Buntan and Diandra Martin were the only two fighters to miss their marks at Thursday’s ONE Championship Fight Night 10 pre-fight weigh-in and hydration tests, while Rodtang Jitmuangnon breathed a sigh of relief on the scale. The good news is that the two Muay Thai fighters are scheduled to meet each other at the Friday card, which means they should have no difficulty negotiating a catchweight contest once they pass their hydration tests, and their bout will most likely proceed. All three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219430/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-weight-and-hydration-test-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219430/one-championship-fight-night-10-live-weight-and-hydration-test-results?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 15:42:49 +0000 Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou appeared to take a jab at Chatri Sityodtong on Twitter on Tuesday, but the ONE CEO and chairman is ready to move past their recent issues. Chatri caused a stir last week when he revealed he was meeting Ngannou in the hope of signing the Cameroonian-Frenchman to ONE. However, he later announced that his promotion would not be submitting a final offer to the superstar free agent, explaining that he felt they were not “aligned on non-financial... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219348/one-championship-chatri-sityodtong-details-francis-ngannou-contract-demands-after-two-face-twitter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2023 05:57:45 +0000 ONE Championship submission grappling star Tye Ruotolo has unfinished business with Gordon Ryan. The two Brazilian jiu jitsu black belts, both Americans, have been linked to a bout for some time, but have yet to meet on the mats. Ruotolo, 20, is hoping that will finally soon – once he has packed on enough muscle to compete with his heavier rival. “My goal in jiu jitsu is to be the best of all time, no matter what, no matter the size of my opponent, and to do that naturally without steroids,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3219316/one-championship-tye-ruotolo-hopes-win-over-reinier-de-ridder-will-set-bout-last-boss-gordon-ryan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3219316/one-championship-tye-ruotolo-hopes-win-over-reinier-de-ridder-will-set-bout-last-boss-gordon-ryan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 May 2023 20:47:21 +0000 If Stamp Fairtex is worried about Alyse Anderson’s ground game, she is hiding it well. The two atomweight MMA contenders are set to meet at ONE Championship Fight Night 10 this Friday in Denver, Colorado – the promotion’s first event on US soil. Ahead of the fight, Anderson has repeatedly expressed confidence that she will win by submission, but the Thai striking specialist Stamp has full confidence in her defence. “How?” the 25-year-old told the Post on Monday when asked about Anderson’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219311/one-championship-stamp-fairtex-laughs-alyse-anderson-submission-threat-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219311/one-championship-stamp-fairtex-laughs-alyse-anderson-submission-threat-how?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 May 2023 18:24:46 +0000 ONE Championship’s signing of kickboxing star Takeru Segawa has opened the door to several blockbuster matchups, and could help the promotion break new ground in Japan. Takeru’s exclusive deal with ONE, which will commence after his June 24 bout with Bailey Sugden in Paris, was announced by CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong late last week. The combat sports world was quick to react. Two of the more notable reactions came from ONE flyweight kickboxing champion Superlek Kiatmoo9, and flyweight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3219073/one-championship-takeru-segawa-signing-opens-doors-rodtang-super-fight-expansion-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3219073/one-championship-takeru-segawa-signing-opens-doors-rodtang-super-fight-expansion-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 May 2023 02:13:04 +0000 Edgar Tabares knows defeating Rodtang Jitmuangnon will be no easy task, to say the least. But he is adamant he cannot just beat the Thai star, but stop a man who is known for his concrete chin in ONE Championship. The 28-year-old Mexican will challenge Rodtang for his flyweight Muay Thai belt in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, Colorado. The Thai champion will enter the Circle having won all 13 of his Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts with ONE, and the prevailing opinion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218902/one-championship-edgar-tabares-says-i-know-i-have-knock-rodtang-out-muay-thai-title-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218902/one-championship-edgar-tabares-says-i-know-i-have-knock-rodtang-out-muay-thai-title-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Apr 2023 05:24:42 +0000 Gingsanglek Tor Laksong closed out ONE Championship’s latest show in Lumpinee Stadium in style, scoring a highlight-reel knockout win over his fellow Thai Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi. The two Muay Thai fighters met at a 132-pound catchweight in the card’s main event. Gingsanglek, 22, ended things in a blink in the second round, felling his foe with a pair of head-kicks in rapid succession, and stunning the crowd inside the famed Bangkok, Thailand arena. “I feel really good,” he said in his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218827/one-championship-friday-fights-14-gingsanglek-scores-us10000-bonus-head-kick-ko-chorfah-main-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218827/one-championship-friday-fights-14-gingsanglek-scores-us10000-bonus-head-kick-ko-chorfah-main-event?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:24:18 +0000 Takeru Segawa, one of the biggest stars in kickboxing, is headed to ONE Championship. The 31-year-old Japanese fighter has signed an “exclusive, multiple fight deal” with the Singapore-based promotion, its CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong announced on Facebook on Friday. Takeru joins the ONE roster with a staggering list of accomplishments in the kickboxing ring, most notably winning titles in three weight classes in respected promotion K-1. He is the only fighter in the promotion’s history to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3218816/one-championship-signs-kickboxing-star-takeru-segawa-exclusive-multiple-fight-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3218816/one-championship-signs-kickboxing-star-takeru-segawa-exclusive-multiple-fight-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:55:43 +0000 Fabricio Andrade has further stoked the flames of a potential showdown with Jonathan Haggerty in ONE Championship. The 26-year-old Briton acknowledged a fight with the Brazilian after he claimed the bantamweight Muay Thai belt with a stunning first-round knockout win over long-reigning champion Nong-O Hama in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 last Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand. “You see me in the back room and now you want to say it on social media?” Haggerty told the Post after his win,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218368/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-hits-back-jonathan-haggerty-tells-him-we-are-not-friends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3218368/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-hits-back-jonathan-haggerty-tells-him-we-are-not-friends?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Apr 2023 02:47:06 +0000 Nong-O Hama is already thinking about a ONE Championship rematch with Jonathan Haggerty, but will prioritise the health of his brain and body. The 36-year-old Thai was back in action in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 in Bangkok on Saturday, taking on England’s Jonathan Haggerty in hopes of defending his bantamweight Muay Thai belt for a record-setting eighth time. Haggerty had other plans, dropping the champion three times en route a first-round knockout win – and a massive upset. It was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218024/one-championship-nong-o-wants-jonathan-haggerty-rematch-prioritises-health-brain-and-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218024/one-championship-nong-o-wants-jonathan-haggerty-rematch-prioritises-health-brain-and-body?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Apr 2023 01:23:50 +0000 Jonathan Haggerty barely broke a sweat in his ONE Championship title fight with Nong-O Hama. The 26-year-old Briton challenged the Thai legend for the promotion’s coveted bantamweight Muay Thai belt in the headlining attraction of Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 9 event at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The champion had already defended his belt seven times heading into the fight, and was considered a big favourite in the match-up, but Haggerty did not get the memo, scoring two knock-downs before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218013/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-welcomes-liam-harrison-fabricio-andrade-fights-after-easy-nong-o?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218013/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-welcomes-liam-harrison-fabricio-andrade-fights-after-easy-nong-o?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Apr 2023 17:06:57 +0000 Jonathan Haggerty authored one of the greatest upsets in ONE Championship history on Saturday morning in Bangkok, Thailand. “The General” from the United Kingdom returned to action in the card’s main event, challenging the legendary Nong-O Hama for the promotion’s bantamweight Muay Thai belt. The Thai had already defended his title seven times heading into the event at Lumpinee Stadium, and was widely expected to do so again. But Haggerty had other plans, and he dropped the champion twice before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217957/one-championship-fight-night-9-nong-o-hama-vs-jonathan-haggerty-live-results-updates-and-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217957/one-championship-fight-night-9-nong-o-hama-vs-jonathan-haggerty-live-results-updates-and-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:59:18 +0000 Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon is now the proud owner of a US$100,000 ONE Championship contract. The 20-year-old Thai was back in action at ONE Friday Fights in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, where he took on the amply more experienced Zhang Chenglong of China in a bantamweight Muay Thai clash. Rambolek ultimately won the fight with second-round knockout – his second win under the promotion’s banner after a stoppage of Theeradet Chor Hapayak at ONE Friday Fights 7 in March. The victory was good for not... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217950/one-championship-friday-fights-13-results-rambolek-earns-us100000-contract-knockout-zhang-chenglong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217950/one-championship-friday-fights-13-results-rambolek-earns-us100000-contract-knockout-zhang-chenglong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:53:44 +0000 ONE Championship fans everywhere breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday evening when both Nong-O Hama and Jonathan Haggerty passed their hydration and weight checks for their bantamweight Muay Thai title fight in Bangkok, Thailand. The two Muay Thai stars will meet in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 on Saturday morning in the city’s famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. While the Thai champion Nong-O has never missed weight in ONE, his challenger Haggerty missed his mark for his last fight – a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217795/one-championship-fight-night-9-weight-and-hydration-test-results-main-event-set-3-fighters-miss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217795/one-championship-fight-night-9-weight-and-hydration-test-results-main-event-set-3-fighters-miss?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:28:53 +0000 Meng Bo is hoping a win in her next ONE Championship bout will set up an all-China MMA title fight with Xiong Jingnan. Meng, 26, is set to meet Brazil’s Dayane Cardoso in a strawweight MMA clash this Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand. She will enter the ring as one of the division’s top contenders, and could lock up a shot at the belt if she wins impressively. “I believe if I win this match, I’ll have a shot at the title,” Meng (20-6) told the Post at the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217672/one-championship-meng-bo-wants-xiong-jingnan-title-shot-win-over-dayane-cardoso-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217672/one-championship-meng-bo-wants-xiong-jingnan-title-shot-win-over-dayane-cardoso-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:15:10 +0000 ONE Championship bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O Hama claims to have some tricks up his sleeve for his next title challenger. The 36-year-old Thai, one of the top pound-for-pound talents in “The Art of Eight Limbs,” is set to defend his belt against Jonathan Haggerty in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 this Saturday in Bangkok’s world famous Lumpinee Stadium. He expects a tough fight, but believes he will catch his British foe off guard in the ring. “I know he’s a very good fighter and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217671/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-more-monster-nong-o-promises-surprise-muay-thai-title-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3217671/one-championship-jonathan-haggerty-more-monster-nong-o-promises-surprise-muay-thai-title-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 03:36:47 +0000 Jon Di Bella was impressed by the striking skill of UFC star Michael Chandler during a recent sparring session at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. Italian-Canadian Di Bella, who holds the ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing title, crossed paths with American Chandler at the famed mixed martial arts gym last week, during the warm-up round for a kickboxing session led by revered coach Henri Hooft. He had nothing but good things to say about the lightweight MMA fighter after the fact. “We were just... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3217578/one-championship-jon-di-bella-says-ufc-star-michael-chandler-real-after-sparring-session-florida?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3217578/one-championship-jon-di-bella-says-ufc-star-michael-chandler-real-after-sparring-session-florida?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:15:14 +0000 Mikey Musumeci and Osamah Almarwai are both determined to entertain fans in their coming ONE Championship grappling title fight. Musumeci, the promotion’s reigning flyweight champion, will attempt to defend his belt against Yemen’s Almarwai at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, Colorado – the promotion’s debut on US soil. The 26-year-old American always feels a responsibility to make his matches exciting, but feels more onus to entertain than ever ahead of ONE’s first event in his home... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3217181/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-admits-jiu-jitsu-can-be-boring-feels-huge-responsibility-entertain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3217181/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-admits-jiu-jitsu-can-be-boring-feels-huge-responsibility-entertain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:15:08 +0000 Denice Zamboanga is hoping her former training partner Stamp Fairtex will be fighting for ONE Championship’s interim atomweight MMA title soon. ONE’s crowded atomweight division is ruled by Canadian-American star Angela Lee, but the champion is out of action indefinitely following the death of her 18-year-old sister Victoria, also a ONE fighter, late last year. In a recent interview with the Post, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong laid out plans to create an interim title in Lee’s stead, identifying... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217050/one-championship-denice-zamboanga-hopes-stamp-fairtex-earns-title-shot-win-over-alyse-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3217050/one-championship-denice-zamboanga-hopes-stamp-fairtex-earns-title-shot-win-over-alyse-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:50:23 +0000 ONE Championship atomweight MMA contenders Jihin Radzuan and Stamp Fairtex went from opponents to training partners in the span of six months, but neither woman appears to have had any difficulty with that transition. The 24-year-old Radzuan, from Malaysia, met Thailand’s Stamp, 25, at ONE Fight Night 2 last September in Singapore. The stakes of the match-up were huge, as Stamp entered the Circle with the No 1 spot in the atomweight rankings, and the fight itself ended up being both competitive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216768/one-championship-jihin-radzuan-calls-month-training-stamp-fairtex-huge-honour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216768/one-championship-jihin-radzuan-calls-month-training-stamp-fairtex-huge-honour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:31:44 +0000 Anatoly Malykhin has a new date for his long awaited ONE Championship title fight with Arjan Bhullar, but several key members of the Russian’s team doubt the fight will happen. Malykhin, ONE’s interim heavyweight MMA champ, is now set to challenge undisputed kin Bhullar on July 15 in Bangkok, Thailand, the promotion’s chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed in a Monday interview with MMA Fighting. This marks the third attempt at booking a fight between the two heavyweights after two previous... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216739/one-championship-anatoly-malykhin-team-want-backup-fighter-arjan-bhullar-title-clash-july?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216739/one-championship-anatoly-malykhin-team-want-backup-fighter-arjan-bhullar-title-clash-july?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Apr 2023 02:00:34 +0000 Reinier de Ridder knows he is in for a tough challenge when he steps into the ONE Championship Circle with Tye Ruotolo next month. The Dutchman, ONE’s reigning middleweight MMA champ, will meet American Ruotolo in a 185-pound submission grappling match at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, Colorado – ONE’s debut on US soil. While De Ridder is known for his slick submission skills in MMA, his opponent in this match is considered one of the top submission grapplers on the planet. “He’s a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3216392/one-championship-reinier-de-ridder-looks-submit-one-best-world-tye-ruotolo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3216392/one-championship-reinier-de-ridder-looks-submit-one-best-world-tye-ruotolo?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:15:07 +0000 ONE Championship returned to Bangkok, Thailand’s famous Lumpinee Stadium on Friday evening, with 12 bouts contested under Muay Thai and MMA rules. In the main event, a flyweight Muay Thai clash, Petsukumvit Boi Bangna defeated Kongthoranee Sor Sommai via unanimous decision. The win brought the 24-year-old to an impressive 3-0 in ONE after a decision win over Chorfah Tor. Sangtiennoi at ONE Friday Fights 3, and a knockout of Petchmuangsri Tded99 at ONE Friday Fights 8. He did not receive a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216385/one-championship-friday-fights-11-best-photos-lumpinee-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216385/one-championship-friday-fights-11-best-photos-lumpinee-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Apr 2023 01:24:05 +0000 Four Thai fighters took home bonus cheques at ONE Championship Friday Fights 12. The event, which emanated from Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Stadium on Friday evening, featured 12 bouts under Muay Thai in MMA rules. Seven of those fights ended before the judges were needed, and four of the fighters to score finishes also earned 350,000 baht (US$10,000) post-fight bonuses from ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong. The first bonus recipient of the night was 20-year-old Samingdam Looksuan, who defeated... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3216375/one-championship-friday-fights-12-four-thai-fighters-win-us10000-bonuses-lumpinee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3216375/one-championship-friday-fights-12-four-thai-fighters-win-us10000-bonuses-lumpinee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2023 17:30:10 +0000 Kade Ruotolo will defend his lightweight grappling belt against Tommy Langaker at ONE Championship Fight Night 11, with CEO Chatri Sityodtong teasing the return of former kickboxing king Superbon – possibly for the same card. ONE officials confirmed the booking to the Post following a report from combat sports news website MMA Mania. It is the first bout to be added to the June 9 event, which will take place at Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Stadium, per the promotion’s official... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3216264/one-championship-superbon-return-works-kade-ruotolo-vs-tommy-langaker-grappling-title-fight-set?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3216264/one-championship-superbon-return-works-kade-ruotolo-vs-tommy-langaker-grappling-title-fight-set?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2023 02:10:30 +0000 ONE Championship has had its eyes on South Korea for years, but the promotion has yet to promote an event in the country. With Japanese-Korean MMA veteran Choo Sung-hoon enjoying unprecedented superstardom in the country – and across Southeast Asia – after a stint on the Netflix hit Physical: 100, there has never been a better time. Choo (16-7), also known as Yoshihiro Akiyama, and more commonly by the nickname “Sexyama”, was one of the most popular competitors on the series, which saw 100... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216135/sexyama-choo-sung-hoons-soaring-popularity-one-championships-ticket-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216135/sexyama-choo-sung-hoons-soaring-popularity-one-championships-ticket-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Apr 2023 02:54:58 +0000 ONE Championship only has two women’s mixed martial arts divisions – atomweight and strawweight – but both weight classes are home to some world class talent. The promotion’s 115-pound atomweight division is particularly stacked, as the home of high level talents like Ham Seo-hee, Stamp Fairtex, Tiffany Teo, and of course, long reigning champion Angela Lee. The strawweight division, which is capped at 125 pounds, is a little less crowded, but is ruled by Xiong Jingnan, who has asserted herself... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216089/one-championship-rankings-womens-pound-pound-mma-april-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3216089/one-championship-rankings-womens-pound-pound-mma-april-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:15:08 +0000 ONE Championship was founded in 2011, and in the intervening years, has assembled one of the deepest rosters of mixed martial arts talent of any promotion on earth. Some of the Singapore-based martial arts promotion’s top MMA fighters, like Demetrious Johnson and John Lineker, were signed from other organisations, like the UFC. Yet many of ONE’s fiercest competitors, such as Christian Lee, Adriano Moraes, and Fabricio Andrade, are home-grown, having spent the bulk of their career competing under... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215466/one-championship-rankings-mens-pound-pound-mma-april-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215466/one-championship-rankings-mens-pound-pound-mma-april-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:12:36 +0000 ONE Championship Friday Fights 11, which went down on Friday Night in Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Stadium, featured 12 bouts contested under Muay Thai and MMA rules. By the time the action was over, the lively crowd inside the stadium had witnessed seven finishes, and six fighters had been awarded 350,000 baht (US$10,000) bonuses courtesy of ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong. Bonus winners included Thailand’s ET Tded99, who knocked out his countryman Apiwat Sor Somnuk 37 seconds into round one of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215658/one-championship-friday-fights-11-best-photos-lumpinee-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215658/one-championship-friday-fights-11-best-photos-lumpinee-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Apr 2023 01:13:21 +0000 Hong Kong’s Yu Yau Pui was among five bonus winners at the ONE Championship Friday Fights 11 card in Bangkok, Thailand’s hallowed Lumpinee Stadium. The 30-year-old atomweight Muay Thai fighter returned to action against Devina Martin – the sister of ONE strawweight contender Diandra Martin – and won the fight by third-round TKO after injuring her foe’s leg with a procession of chopping kicks. She was the first fighter on the card to receive a 350,000 baht (US$10,000) post-fight bonus from ONE... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215644/one-championship-friday-fights-11-hong-kongs-yu-yau-pui-scores-second-us10000-bonus-action-packed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215644/one-championship-friday-fights-11-hong-kongs-yu-yau-pui-scores-second-us10000-bonus-action-packed?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 17:48:35 +0000 ONE Championship atomweight MMA contender Itsuki Hirata suffered the toughest loss of her career last weekend, but seems to be in good spirits after a post-fight conversation with the promotion’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong. Hirata was in action on the main card of Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 8 card in Singapore, taking on the exponentially more experience Ham Seo-hee in a bout that was seen as a title eliminator in their division. Hirata was not without her moments in the fight, but ultimately lost a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215536/one-championship-itsuki-hirata-vows-live-chatri-sityodtongs-expectations-after-ham-seo-hee-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215536/one-championship-itsuki-hirata-vows-live-chatri-sityodtongs-expectations-after-ham-seo-hee-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 06:42:15 +0000 Ham Seo-hee was understandably excited to learn that her latest ONE Championship victory will earn her a title shot. The South Korean MMA veteran, 37, was back in action at Saturday’s ONE Fight Night 8 event in Singapore, defeating 23-year-old Japanese contender Itsuki Hirata by unanimous decision in an atomweight clash. After the fight, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed to the Post that Ham’s next fight will be for gold – most likely for the interim atomweight title, as undisputed champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215486/one-championship-ham-seo-hee-blames-itsuki-hirata-dull-fight-one-persons-effort-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3215486/one-championship-ham-seo-hee-blames-itsuki-hirata-dull-fight-one-persons-effort-not-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 01:03:25 +0000 Danial Williams’ flyweight kickboxing title fight with Superlek did not go the way he hoped – but he is undeterred. The Australian, who typically competes in the lighter strawweight division, challenged Thai champion Superlek for flyweight gold in the main event of ONE Championship Fight Night 8 last Saturday in Singapore. Williams had originally been set to meet Rui Botelho in a strawweight Muay Thai bout on the card, but when Rodtang Jitmuangnon was forced to pull out of a planned fight with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3215404/one-championship-danial-williams-still-chasing-mma-kickboxing-muay-thai-titles-despite-humbling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3215404/one-championship-danial-williams-still-chasing-mma-kickboxing-muay-thai-titles-despite-humbling?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Mar 2023 13:15:08 +0000