Latest news with #ONEFridayFights
Time Out
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time Out
ONE Championship goes all-in on Bangkok
When it comes to sports that dominate weekend buzz, ONE Championship is always in the spotlight. Since launching in Singapore in 2011, this combat sports powerhouse has exploded onto the global stage, becoming one of the biggest names in martial arts. Though many of its adrenaline-pumping bouts happen in Thailand, the heart of its global operations has stayed in Singapore – until now. Big news: ONE is packing up and heading to Bangkok. That's right, the capital is about to become the new international production hub of one of the world's fiercest fight scenes. In a statement posted on their Facebook page on June 30, the company confirmed the relocation of its production hub from the Lion City to the Big Mango. The decision, it said, was driven by rising production demands, improved logistical efficiency and the growing scale of its flagship weekly series, ONE Friday Fights. Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained, 'Over the past two and a half years, Thailand has become central to our global content production. As we continue to scale, this move will allow us to centralise operations and improve coordination while increasing our event and content production capabilities.' The shift comes as the ONE Lumpinee events continue to fuel Asia's fight scene, now contributing over B16 billion annually to the Thai economy. The weekly bouts are now broadcast to 195 countries during primetime hours across Asia and the momentum isn't slowing. A brand-new, traditional five-round Muay Thai series is also in the works and slated to debut later this year. While this move marks a major shift, Singapore will continue to serve as a corporate headquarters, handling investor relations, strategic planning and senior leadership operations. To date, the martial arts organisation has staged over 50 events annually at Lumpinee Stadium. It's clear that the kingdom is no longer just the setting for the action – it's now driving it, both in and out of the ring. With ONE's bold leap and Thailand's growing ambition including the buzz around potentially bringing Formula 1 to the country, we are racing toward becoming a global sports tourism hotspot. So, what's next on the horizon? Which major sporting event do you think we will host next?
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship shifts global production hub to Bangkok as revenue ‘nears US$200 million'
ONE Championship has officially moved its global production operations to Bangkok – marking another shift in the martial arts promotion's centre of gravity, as it leans deeper into its weekly Lumpinee Stadium events and reports a sharp rise in revenue. The company confirmed on Monday that it has relocated its production hub from Singapore to the Thai capital, citing increased output, logistical efficiency, and the growing scale of its weekly ONE Friday Fights broadcasts. 'This move allows us to centralise production and improve coordination,' ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said in a statement, adding that Thailand has 'played a key role in our global production efforts over the past two and a half years.' The decision comes amid what Chatri called a 'step forward' in the company's growth as a media property – revealing that ONE's overall revenue for 2025 is 'approaching US$200 million,' up from US$148 million last year. Bangkok's operational importance has risen steadily since the launch of ONE Friday Fights in January 2023, with the weekly shows now broadcast to 195 countries during primetime hours in Asia. A new traditional five-round Muay Thai series is also in the pipeline, set to debut later this year. Singapore will remain the company's corporate headquarters, home to investor relations, strategic planning, and senior leadership, the statement added. The firm also remains domiciled in the Cayman Islands as 'part of long-term capital planning and corporate structuring'. 'This is a step forward in our evolution as a global sports media property,' Chatri said. A recent Nielsen study claimed ONE contributes more than US$470 million in annual economic impact to Thailand – figures the promotion has leaned on to underscore its growing role in the local sports and tourism ecosystem. ONE now runs more than 50 shows annually at Lumpinee Stadium alone, forming the backbone of its global content output. Its long-term strategy appears increasingly tied to Thailand – both in the ring and behind the scenes. The company did not disclose whether the move would affect staffing levels in Singapore but reiterated its long-term commitment to the city-state. 'We remain committed to Singapore while re-allocating resources to where it makes the most operational sense,' Chatri added. ONE was reported by Bloomberg to have raised US$50 million in new funding from the Qatar Investment Authority and a group of investors last October, soon after making a 'few dozen' job cuts including some at its Singapore headquarters in a bid for profitability, according to AFP.
Morocco World
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Ahead of His ONE Debut This Friday, Five Facts About Abdessamie Rhenimi
Casablanca – Morocco's Abdessamie Rhenimi is set to make his debut at ONE Championship weekly fight series ONE Friday Fights this Friday, May 2. Rhenimi will face Khunpon Or AudUdon in a strawweight Muay Thai contest over three rounds inside Bangkok's iconic Lumpinee Stadium at ONE Friday Fights 106. Before Rhenimi debuts in the show, which kicks off tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. (WET), we review five facts about the rising Moroccan star. He spent his childhood in Fez Rhenimi was born in 2006 in the northern city of Fez, the capital of the Fez-Meknes administrative region, in a traditional family of four siblings, three brothers and a sister. Since finding his passion for Muay Thai during his childhood, his talent has shone quickly. After picking up 15 Muay Thai titles in Meknes, it was obvious that Rhenimi's talents belonged to the global scene. 'My dream since childhood was to become a big world champion,' Rhenimi said when asked about his ambitions in the martial arts world. He is Morocco's Muay Thai champion A talented striker since the moment he put on his Muay Thai gloves as a child, the teenager dazzled the crowd as he cruised to his first major national tournament win. Still 18, Rhenimi has already captured the U-23 Moroccan Muay Thai (-57 Kg) championship, showcasing his natural fighting talent and an in-ring IQ level well beyond his years. Since moving to Thailand less than a year ago, Rhenimi has been quick to show the world why he could be Morocco's next big Muay Thai star. The teenage talent beat all three competitors he has faced since making the transition to Thailand, whom are all more experienced. Despite his young years, Rhenimi has already established a distinct and dangerous ultra-aggressive style inside the ring. More importantly, the rising star has displayed his huge boxing skills and terrifying knockout power, finishing all three opponents since he made his move to Thailand. He dreams of becoming a ONE World Champion Ahead of his anticipated ONE debut tomorrow, Rhenimi laid out his lofty ambitions in the global martial arts organization. 'The experience of fighting in ONE Championship is going to be amazing. I would like to continue fighting in the organization and to win all of my upcoming fights,' Rhenimi said. 'My ambition is to become a ONE world champion and to become one of the toughest fighters in the organization,' he added. Tags: muay thaione championshipONE Fight Night
South China Morning Post
30-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese MMA star Zhang warns ONE Fight Night 31 rival he is facing a step up in class
Chinese MMA star Zhang Lipeng warned Lucas Gabriel that the Brazilian is making a step up when the two meet at ONE Fight Night 31 this weekend. Advertisement Veteran fighter Zhang boasts an extensive career with a half-century of bouts fought and is coming off an impressive round-two TKO win over Hiroyuki 'Japanese Beast' Tetsuka in February. And that victory, he is keen to prove to Gabriel that there are levels to ONE Championship. 'I'm going to welcome him with the sole loss in his career,' Zhang told the Post. 'Because I'm going to show him that it's not easy fighting on the main stage.' Gabriel may have earned his place in ONE Championship with a strong run in ONE Friday Fights, with three victories – but Zhang said he will prove to be another level to the jiu-jitsu black belt's previous opponents. Chinese MMA star Zhang Lipeng dreams of facing Shinya Aoki. Photo: ONE Championship 'I watched his previous fights – I think none of them is truly at ONE Championship level,' Zhang said. 'I'm going to show him what it feels like to share the ring with a very well-rounded legend.'
