https://www.scmp.com/rss/514821/feed The latest fight news and analysis from ONE Championship’s men’s and women’s submission grappling divisions. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Tye Ruotolo sits on top of the submission grappling world. He is coming off four straight victories on ONE Championship cards that culminated in his winning the welterweight title last November. That most recent win came at the expense of Magomed Abdulkadirov at ONE Fight Night 16. As well as the title, Ruotolo earned a US$50,000 (HK$391,000) performance bonus and things seem to be happening very fast for the 21-year-old. Ruotolo defends his belt for the first time at ONE Fight Night 21 this... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3257702/one-championship-submission-grappling-champion-tye-ruotolo-says-izaak-michell-will-be-his-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3257702/one-championship-submission-grappling-champion-tye-ruotolo-says-izaak-michell-will-be-his-most?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:54:23 +0000 The long awaited rematch between Jarred Brooks and Joshua Pacio has been booked for ONE 166, with the strawweight title fight one of three announced on Monday for next year’s event in Qatar. Expected to take place on March 1 at Lusail Arena, the fight is one of five where a belt will be on the line, although it is the only one to be confirmed. Brooks (20-2-0-1) has not fought in MMA at all this year, while his Filipino opponent (21-4) will try to regain the title he lost to the American at ONE... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3245509/one-championship-brooks-and-pacio-rematch-set-one-166-event-qatar-aliakbari-misses-out-title-shot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3245509/one-championship-brooks-and-pacio-rematch-set-one-166-event-qatar-aliakbari-misses-out-title-shot?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:31:15 +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 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. ONE Championship returns to action in Bangkok this weekend, but first all 20 fighters on the card had to weigh in on Thursday night in Bangkok. All eyes were on Jonathan Haggerty and Fabricio Andrade at the host Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, as they looked to make the ONE Fight Night 16 main event official. The vacant ONE... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3240130/one-championship-fight-night-16-official-weigh-ins-and-hydration-test-results-and-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3240130/one-championship-fight-night-16-official-weigh-ins-and-hydration-test-results-and-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Nov 2023 12:50:14 +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. Mikey Musumeci – and ONE Championship fans – were left bemused after he failed hydration twice for Saturday’s openweight grappling match against Shinya Aoki. ONE’s flyweight submission grappling champion returned for a third time during the three-hour testing window on Thursday night in Bangkok to eventually pass. “Darth Rigatoni” weighed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236983/one-championship-fight-night-15-weigh-ins-mikey-musumeci-says-crazy-he-fails-hydration-twice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236983/one-championship-fight-night-15-weigh-ins-mikey-musumeci-says-crazy-he-fails-hydration-twice?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Oct 2023 01:45:31 +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 Thursday night’s ONE Championship Fight Night 14 weight and hydration checks were full of drama, with Stamp Fairtex getting an early scare, and Xiong Jingnan ultimately missing her mark. The 26-year-old Thai Stamp, who is set to fight South Korea’s Ham Seo-hee for ONE’s interim atomweight MMA title in the main event of the Saturday morning event in Singapore, was one of the final fighters on the testing stage inside the host Copthorne King’s Hotel. She passed her first hydration test, but then... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236191/one-championship-fight-night-14-weigh-ins-stamp-fairtex-survives-scare-xiong-jingnan-misses-mark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3236191/one-championship-fight-night-14-weigh-ins-stamp-fairtex-survives-scare-xiong-jingnan-misses-mark?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:16:32 +0000 ONE Championship returned to action at Lumpinee Stadium on Saturday morning in Bangkok, Thailand, with two title fights headlining a stacked card. Chingiz Allazov successfully defended his ONE featherweight kickboxing title against longtime rival Marat Grigorian in a thrilling main event, earning a unanimous decision from the judges. In the ONE Fight Night 13 co-main, strawweight MMA champion Jarred Brooks did his best as he stepped out of his comfort zone to challenge flyweight submission... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3230074/one-championship-fight-night-13-live-results-and-highlights-chingiz-allazov-vs-marat-grigorian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3230074/one-championship-fight-night-13-live-results-and-highlights-chingiz-allazov-vs-marat-grigorian?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Aug 2023 00:02:07 +0000 John Lineker was the big casualty as all 20 fighters on Saturday’s ONE Championship Fight Night 13 card weighed in on Thursday night in Bangkok. There were 10 fights set to take place at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand’s capital, but three of them are now in doubt after a slew of hydration test fails. The two titles fights will go ahead, however, after things – mostly – went smoothly on the scale for all concerned during the official three-hour testing window. Flyweight kickboxing champ... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3229919/one-championship-live-weigh-ins-and-hydration-tests-fight-night-13-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3229919/one-championship-live-weigh-ins-and-hydration-tests-fight-night-13-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:02:00 +0000 ONE Championship has made a big late shake-up to its Fight Night 13 card in Bangkok this weekend, with three new bouts added. Tye Ruotolo will face lightweight MMA contender Dagi Arslanaliev in a catchweight submission grappling match at Lumpinee Stadium, the promotion announced on Tuesday. Turkey’s Arslanaliev has not competed since December 2021, when he scored a third-round TKO against Timofey Nastyukhin in a Fight of the Year contender. In another change, Supergirl Jaroonsak will now fight... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3229621/one-championship-makes-late-shake-fight-night-13-card-three-new-bouts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3229621/one-championship-makes-late-shake-fight-night-13-card-three-new-bouts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:18:53 +0000 There was plenty of drama as usual at Thursday’s ONE Championship Fight Night 12 weigh-ins and hydration tests. The biggest takeaway, though, was Superlek missing weight, and potentially putting Saturday’s Muay Thai main event at Lumpinee Stadium against Tagir Khalilov in danger. ONE’s flyweight kickboxing champion was left attempting to negotiate a catchweight with his opponent, as were Walter Goncalves and Yuya Wakamatsu, who also missed weight having passed hydration. Here is how all the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227605/one-championship-live-weigh-ins-hydration-test-results-fight-night-12-athletes-step-scale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227605/one-championship-live-weigh-ins-hydration-test-results-fight-night-12-athletes-step-scale?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:59:42 +0000 It’s the MMA (not so) super fight everyone is itching to see – billionaire tech giants Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk squaring off in the cage. UFC president Dana White is keen to stage the fight, and said he already has a date in mind for an extravaganza he thinks could smash pay-per-view records and bring in US$1 billion. But after recently training with Zuckerberg, ONE Championship flyweight submission grappling champ Mikey Musumeci has backed the Meta CEO and chairman to submit his rival if... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3227466/one-championships-mikey-musumeci-backing-strong-mark-zuckerberg-beat-elon-musk-after-coaching-meta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3227466/one-championships-mikey-musumeci-backing-strong-mark-zuckerberg-beat-elon-musk-after-coaching-meta?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:30:09 +0000 ONE Championship will return to Singapore on September 30, in what will be its first event outside Bangkok since May. The promotion’s CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong confirmed the date to the Post on Sunday, and said September 2’s ONE Fight Night 14 card had been moved back by four weeks. Before the date change, the September 2 card was slated to be headlined by an interim atomweight MMA title fight between Stamp Fairtex and Ham Seo-hee. October 7’s ONE Fight Night 15 card will also remain in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227064/one-championship-returning-singapore-september-30-absolute-fire-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3227064/one-championship-returning-singapore-september-30-absolute-fire-card?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jul 2023 05:17:20 +0000 ONE Championship has agreed a deal to bring its live martial arts events to Qatar for the first time, the Post has learned. The Singapore-based organisation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with Media City Qatar (MCQ), as part of its expansion into the Middle East. The MOU is an extension of a strategic partnership both parties entered into last year. MCQ describes itself as “a global media hub and incubator for companies, innovators, entrepreneurs and creative... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224973/one-championship-signs-mou-bring-live-events-qatar-doha-cards-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3224973/one-championship-signs-mou-bring-live-events-qatar-doha-cards-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:42:24 +0000 Kade Ruotolo really is taking his transition to mixed martial arts seriously. ONE Championship’s lightweight submission grappling champ retained his title with a unanimous decision over Norwegian rival Tommy Langaker last Saturday in Bangkok. But the 20-year-old American’s thoughts quickly turned to the next chapter – namely his MMA debut in the martial arts promotion. “I haven’t signed anything so I can’t give an exact date but 100 per cent by the end of the year. I’m not going to let this year... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223867/one-championship-kade-ruotolo-trains-striking-superbon-working-ufcs-cub-swanson-mma-switch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223867/one-championship-kade-ruotolo-trains-striking-superbon-working-ufcs-cub-swanson-mma-switch?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jun 2023 02:27:32 +0000 ONE Championship is set to bring back its numbered events later in 2023 and will head to a new location, while plans for significant expansion in the US next year are afoot. The Singapore-based martial arts promotion last held an Asian prime-time numbered event – ONE 164 – in Manila last December, as part of a double header with a Prime Video card, which took place in the morning and was geared towards the US market. “We will have our next big numbered event later this year,” ONE’s chairman and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223682/one-championship-bring-back-numbered-events-mega-card-planned-new-country-full-scale-us-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223682/one-championship-bring-back-numbered-events-mega-card-planned-new-country-full-scale-us-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jun 2023 03:06:53 +0000 ONE Championship returned to action on Saturday morning at Bangkok’s famed Lumpinee Stadium for another stacked card, and there were several stunning finishes – not least from Superbon Singha Mawynn. Two title bouts headlined ONE Fight Night 11 in Thailand, with Regian Eersel up in the main event now as he defended hi8s lightweight Muay Thai title in incredible fashion against Russian newcomer Dmitry Menshikov. The Dutch-Surinamese fighter needed just 46 seconds to stop former Glory standout... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223625/one-championship-fight-night-11-live-results-and-highlights-superbon-returns-two-title-bouts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223625/one-championship-fight-night-11-live-results-and-highlights-superbon-returns-two-title-bouts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jun 2023 23:04:40 +0000 It was a night of high drama at Thursday’s ONE Championship weigh-ins, as Superbon passed hydration with seconds to go in Bangkok, Thailand. The former featherweight kickboxing champ hit his mark on his third attempt, and promptly made weight to make his title eliminator with Tayfun Ozcan official. Martine Michieletto and Nieky Holzken were not so fortunate, with both failing late hydration attempts as the clock ticked down. Ambet Kitchen passed hydration at a similarly late juncture, but was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223440/one-championship-live-weigh-hydration-test-results-fight-night-11-athletes-step-scales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3223440/one-championship-live-weigh-hydration-test-results-fight-night-11-athletes-step-scales?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:56:22 +0000 ONE Championship flyweight submission grappling king Mikey Musumeci has taken aim at jiu jitsu’s steroid abusers, as he praised his promotion for helping to clean up the sport. The 26-year-old American recently defended his title with a submission win via rear-naked choke against Osamah Almarwai at ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver, Colorado – the Singapore-based martial arts organisation’s debut on US soil. In an Instagram post on Monday, Musumeci shared a notification from ONE that his latest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3221576/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-blasts-jiu-jitsus-steroid-users-you-dont-need-inject-needle-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3221576/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-blasts-jiu-jitsus-steroid-users-you-dont-need-inject-needle-your?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 May 2023 12:15:22 +0000 ONE Championship could not have envisioned a more perfect debut event on US soil. Friday night’s spectacular ONE Fight Night 10 event, which was broadcast on Amazon Prime Video in the US, delivered in every way possible, with show-stopping knockouts, shock upsets, star-making performances, and a finish that sent the raucous crowd at Denver, Colorado’s 1stBank Centre home happy. Having flirted with the idea of retirement during fight week, Demetrious Johnson retained his flyweight MMA title with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219636/one-championships-us-debut-worth-wait-demetrious-johnson-caps-perfect-card-denver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3219636/one-championships-us-debut-worth-wait-demetrious-johnson-caps-perfect-card-denver?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 May 2023 12:02:14 +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 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 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 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 ONE Championship lightweight Muay Thai king Regian Eersel will defend his title against newcomer Dmitry Menshikov in the Fight Night 11 main event, a source has told the Post. The June 10 event – which will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service in the US and Canada – will be hosted at Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Stadium. Eersel, also the promotion’s lightweight kickboxing champ, is undefeated in ONE, and is riding back-to-back victories over Sinsamut Klinmee. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218086/one-championship-regian-eersel-face-dmitry-menshikov-fight-night-11-main-event-superbon-returns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/muay-thai/article/3218086/one-championship-regian-eersel-face-dmitry-menshikov-fight-night-11-main-event-superbon-returns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Apr 2023 01:59:27 +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 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 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 Superlek Kiatmoo9 remains the ONE Championship flyweight kickboxing king. The Thai, 27, defended his belt in the main event of ONE Fight Night 8 on Saturday in Singapore, taking on Australia’s Danial Williams, who stepped in to replace Rodtang Jitmuangnon on five days’ notice. The short-notice circumstances did not seem to bother the champion, who ultimately defended his title with a highlight reel knockout in round three. In the ONE Fight Night 8 co-main event, Brazil’s Allycia Hellen... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3214813/one-championship-fight-night-8-live-results-and-highlights-superlek-and-danial-williams-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/kickboxing/article/3214813/one-championship-fight-night-8-live-results-and-highlights-superlek-and-danial-williams-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:35:32 +0000 Itsuki Hirata silenced her doubters on Thursday night, passing her pre-fight hydration test and making weight for her Saturday clash with Ham Seo-hee on the first try. The two atomweights are set to collide at the ONE Championship Fight Night 8 event in Singapore. It is their second attempt at meeting in the Circle after a planned November fight was derailed when Hirata failed to pass three hydration tests, and Ham declined an offer to meet at a catchweight. But there were no issues this time,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3214616/one-championship-fight-night-8-live-weigh-and-hydration-test-results-all-eyes-itsuki-hirata?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3214616/one-championship-fight-night-8-live-weigh-and-hydration-test-results-all-eyes-itsuki-hirata?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:41:21 +0000 Aung La N Sang believes ONE Championship stands to benefit from the abject failure of Power Slap, the controversial new project from UFC president Dana White. Power Slap, which sees competitors take turns open-hand striking each other in the face at close range with concussive consequences, debuted on American television network TBS on January 18, and concluded with a live finale on the alternative social media network Rumble this past weekend. The series performed very poorly on television,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3213581/aung-la-n-sang-says-one-championship-coming-us-perfect-time-especially-after-joke-power-slap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3213581/aung-la-n-sang-says-one-championship-coming-us-perfect-time-especially-after-joke-power-slap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Mar 2023 12:15:10 +0000 The line-up for ONE Championship Fight Night 8 is coming together, and it looks like it will be a great viewing experience for fans watching live in Singapore and on screens around the world. The March 25 card will be topped by three champion versus champion title fights. In the main event, long absent heavyweight MMA king Arjan Bhullar will take on Anatoly Malykhin, who claimed the division’s interim title in Bhullar’s stead. The co-headlining attraction will see flyweight Muay Thai champion... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3213277/one-championship-fight-night-8-gets-multiple-new-matchups-including-return-alex-silva-debut-tammi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3213277/one-championship-fight-night-8-gets-multiple-new-matchups-including-return-alex-silva-debut-tammi?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Mar 2023 15:00:45 +0000 ONE Championship has shaken up the submission grappling industry by offering athletes an international platform and unprecedented paydays. But the promotion has yet to crown a champion in either of its women’s divisions, and it would be great to see that change in the coming months. ONE, which also features MMA, kickboxing and Muay Thai bouts, promoted its first submission grappling contest in 2017, when Garry Tonon defeated Shinya Aoki with a heel hook. However the promotion did not make the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3213187/one-championship-has-shaken-submission-grappling-industry-womens-title-should-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3213187/one-championship-has-shaken-submission-grappling-industry-womens-title-should-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Mar 2023 07:30:27 +0000 Fabricio Andrade is the new ONE Championship bantamweight MMA king. The 25-year-old Brazilian claimed the division’s vacant title in the ONE Fight Night 7 main event on Saturday morning in Bangkok, Thailand, battering his countryman John Lineker to a corner stoppage between the fourth and fifth rounds. Lineker landed some huge shots in the first three rounds, but Andrade ultimately got the decisive result he has craved since their first fight, in October of last year, ended with a no contest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211512/one-championship-fight-night-7-live-results-and-highlights-john-lineker-and-fabricio-andrade-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211512/one-championship-fight-night-7-live-results-and-highlights-john-lineker-and-fabricio-andrade-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Feb 2023 22:42:48 +0000 Fabricio Andrade had promised “one more surprise” for John Lineker at Friday’s ONE Fight Night 7 ceremonial weigh-ins, and he duly delivered. The 25-year-old “Wonder Boy” (8-2, 1 No Contest) handed Lineker a steel cup when they faced off on stage at the 137 Pillars Suites and Residences Bangkok, drawing a smile from his fellow Brazilian. Saturday’s Lumpinee Stadium rematch for ONE Championship’s bantamweight MMA title comes with plenty of spice, after October’s clash between the two men ended in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211424/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-hands-john-lineker-steel-cup-fight-night-7-face-offs-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211424/one-championship-fabricio-andrade-hands-john-lineker-steel-cup-fight-night-7-face-offs-bangkok?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Feb 2023 08:38:13 +0000 Every fighter on the ONE Championship Fight Night 7 bill passed their pre-fight weight and hydration checks on Thursday, including headliner John Lineker, who had plenty of doubters as he stepped onto the scale. Lineker was the second fighter to the testing stage, and passed both his hydration and weight checks on the first try. It was a major statement from the Brazilian, who was stripped of the ONE bantamweight MMA title after he missed weight for a fight with Fabricio Andrade last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211300/one-championship-fight-night-7-live-weight-and-hydration-test-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3211300/one-championship-fight-night-7-live-weight-and-hydration-test-results?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:51:08 +0000 Mikey Musumeci’s next title defence will occur on home soil. The American, ONE Championship’s inaugural flyweight submission grappling champ, is set to defend his belt against Saudi Arabia’s Osamah Almarwai at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, which will be the promotion’s first event in the United States. ONE revealed the submission grappling title fight on social media on Tuesday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3210242/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-defend-submission-grappling-title-vs-osamah-almarwai-us-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3210242/one-championship-mikey-musumeci-defend-submission-grappling-title-vs-osamah-almarwai-us-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Feb 2023 03:05:40 +0000 All martial arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. ONE Championship’s slew of major fight announcements continued on Monday night. After CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed three Muay Thai and kickboxing title bout, the promotion also made a submission grappling super fight official. Middleweight MMA champion Reinier de Ridder will face Tye Ruotolo at Fight Night 10 – ONE’s on-ground US debut in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3209358/one-championship-reinier-de-ridder-face-tye-ruotolo-submission-grappling-super-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/grappling/article/3209358/one-championship-reinier-de-ridder-face-tye-ruotolo-submission-grappling-super-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:32:55 +0000 “For once it seemed Aberdeen’s Jumbo floating restaurant might have met its match,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 7, 1993. “It was here the invading army of Japanese sumo wrestlers started their day with breakfast. “After dim sum, some of the 40 rikishi – who are in Hongkong for a two-day tournament – took to the streets of Kowloon wearing their kimonos and wooden clogs. “[Sumo wrestlers are] considered divine heroes by their countrymen, [but] Hongkong residents seemed more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3209239/when-sumo-wrestlers-visited-hong-kong-two-day-tournament-and-had-lunch-excited-japan-airlines-cabin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3209239/when-sumo-wrestlers-visited-hong-kong-two-day-tournament-and-had-lunch-excited-japan-airlines-cabin?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:15:07 +0000