bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Tom Taylor

Nicolas Atkin

ONE Championship will promote one of the biggest tournaments in the history of Muay Thai in 2023.
At Wednesday night’s ONE Fight Night 6 pre-fight press conference in Bangkok, the promotion’s CEO Chatri Sityodtong laid out plans for a 16-man openweight tournament, with a US$1 million prze awaiting the winner.
“I’m announcing the greatest grand prix in the history of Muay Thai,” Chatri told the media inside the host W Hotel Bangkok. “Sixteen of the best fighters in the world will descend, this year, for US$1 million.
“The very, very, very best, irrespective of weight class.”


Chatri did not reveal the line-up for the tournament, but named flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.
Bantamweight Muay Thai contender Jonathan Haggerty, and former title challenger Liam Harrison also got a mention.
“Fans, all over the world, please tell me who you want to see,” Chatri said.

Chatri later told the Post the tournament would begin in March with eight fights. The quarter-finals will take place in June, the semi-finals in September, and the final in December.
“But you never know with these grand prix things, it hasn’t always gone smoothly,” he admitted, with a laugh.
One way or the other, Chatri is confident it will dominate the attention of the Muay Thai world.
“You’re going to see big guys against small guys, and it’s going to be huge,” he said. “I promise you this will blow up the sport all over the world.
“You’re going to see some really whacky stuff, with the greatest strikers on the planet. Openweight is openweight.”
Rodtang, Stamp agree ONE Lumpinee will ‘open doors’ for Thai fighters
ONE has made a huge commitment to the sport of Muay Thai, and to Thailand itself, in 2023.
The promotion is set to stage 52 events inside Bangkok’s world-famous Lumpinee Stadium before this year is out, starting on January 20.
Its first two tentpole events of 2023, which will both air on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service in the United States, are also both set to emanate from Bangkok. The first card, ONE Fight Night 6, is set for this Saturday at the Impact Arena. The second, Fight Night 7, is scheduled for February 25 at Lumpinee.

Saturday’s Fight Night 6 card will be topped by a featherweight kickboxing title fight, as the Thai champion Superbon defends his belt against Belarus’ Chingiz Allazov.
In the co-main event, Thailand’s Superlek Kiatmoo9, another possible tournament entrant, will meet Spain’s Daniel Puertas with the vacant flyweight kickboxing title on the line.
The division’s former champion, Ilias Ennahachi, was set to defend his belt against Superlek on the card, but vacated the belt when he realised he would not be able to make weight.
Rodtang, ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai champ, will also be in action on the card, taking on China’s Jiduo Yibu in a non-title kickboxing fight.


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

ONE Championship unveils openweight Muay Thai grand prix featuring ‘16 of the world’s best’ and US$1 million prize

Chatri Sityodtong speaks at the ONE Fight Night 6 press conference in Bangkok. Photos: ONE Championship

Rodtang Jitmuangnon lands a head kick Joseph Lasiri at ONE on Prime Video 4.

Superbon celebrates winning the ONE featherweight kickboxing title.

ONE Championship: Stamp Fairtex sends support to Victoria Lee’s family – ‘please be strong’

Angela Lee (right) comforts Stamp Fairtex after their fight at ONE X. Photos: ONE Championship.

Angela Lee (left) and Stamp Fairtex at the ONE X face-offs. Photo: Handout

Anissa Meksen lands a punch on Dangkongfah Banchamek at ONE on Prime Video 2.

ONE Championship: Superbon plans for ‘full MMA fight’ after title clash with Chingiz Allazov – ‘maybe in America’

Featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon celebrates a successful title defense against Marat Grigorian. Photos: ONE Championship.

Superbon throws a roundhouse kick to Giorgio Petrosyan’s head.

Chingiz Allazov lands a push kick to the midsection of Samy Sana. 

ONE Championship: Aung La N Sang ‘heartbroken’ for Victoria Lee’s family after 18-year-old’s death

Aung La N Sang (right) poses with the Lee family, including Victoria Lee (left), who has died at 18.

Victoria Lee’s father and coach Ken Lee congratulates her after her win over Victoria Souza.

Aung La N Sang celebrates with the fans at ONE Championship 163 after his win over Yushin Okami.

ONE Championship Fight Night 7 changes date and location, line-up set as Martin Nguyen faces Shamil Gasanov

John Lineker (left) and Fabricio Andrade touch gloves before their bantamweight title fight, which ended in a no contest due to an inadvertent low blow. Photos: ONE Championship. 

Martin Nguyen celebrates his victory over Kirill Gorobets.

Tawanchai celebrates after winning the ONE Championship featherweight Muay Thai title with a decision defeat of Petchmorakot.

ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong pays tribute to Victoria Lee after her death at 18 – ‘a precious soul’

Victoria Lee enters the ONE Circle for her fight against Victoria Souza. Photos: ONE Championship

Victoria Lee throws a punch at Victoria Souza.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts

ONE boss Chatri Sityodtong lays out plans for tournament that will ‘blow up the sport all over the world’
‘You’re going to see big guys against small guys ... some really whacky stuff,’ he says – ‘openweight is openweight’


ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong lays out plans for US$1 million tournament – ‘you’re going to see big guys against smalls guys, some really whacky stuff’.


Muay Thai

Superbon