ONE Championship: Chatri claims ‘we’re bigger than UFC’, says his promotion has better ‘roster quality’
- CEO insists ‘pedigree of these guys is just different level’ in ONE – ‘De Ridder would strangle the hell out Pereira and Adesanya, first round’
- Chatri touts ‘record year’ for ‘viewership numbers, revenues, capital raised’ and vows to ‘keep on growing’ in 2023 with 70 events planned
After bringing the curtain down on a roller coaster year for ONE Championship with a double header of events in Manila at the weekend, chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong was in bullish mood – and made some very bold claims.
The 29-year-old American “Monkey God” was released by the Las Vegas-based promotion in 2019, but earned his redemption at the Mall of Asia Arena, and his boss was understandably happy to hear such sentiments.
“First of all we’re bigger,” Chatri said at a post-event media scrum, when asked about the comparison with the UFC. “Nielsen came out with the industry report eight or nine months ago, on the TV metrics and social and digital. We are bigger – there’s no question – in terms of viewership and engagement around the world.
“I’d love to see a UFC versus ONE, champion versus champion. I believe we would win our fair share. They would win some too. But I do believe we’re the better organisation.
“If you look at roster quality, what is an average athlete in ONE? He or she is a world champion in one discipline or more prior to joining, at the highest levels. The pedigree of these guys is just different level.