Sports

Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), once again electrified the bustling Thai capital of Bangkok with another spectacular evening of world-class martial arts action. ONE: NO SURRENDER III, a closed-door, audience-free event showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent.

In the main event, 21-year-old Thai phenom “Left Meteorite” Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai notched the biggest win of his young career, stopping top-rated countryman “The Million Dollar Baby” Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort to advance to the final round of the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament. The two men exchanged fiery combinations at the center of the ONE Championship ring to start the contest. Sangmanee was loose and relaxed, as Kulabdam launched sharp uppercuts and hooks from just out of range. However, an explosive left straight toward the end of the first round connected for Kulabdam, tagging Sangmanee flush to the jaw. Sangmanee was out cold before he hit the ground, as Kulabdam walked away with an emphatic knockout victory.

*NOTE: Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym will step in for the injured Saemapetch Fairtex in the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Final.

Visit the official ONE: NO SURRENDER III photo gallery by clicking: https://bit.ly/onephotos

Video highlights can be downloaded here: https://onechampionship.sharefile.com/d-s4611c149bb04861b

Post-bout interviews can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1x2wjPnGWTtdO4K9q4cqDcqhFpLU9GeRY?usp=sharing 

In a ONE Super Series flyweight Muay Thai contest, Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy of Thailand put forth a striking clinic, thwarting an aggressive but outclassed opponent in Kun Khmer World Champion Sok Thy of Cambodia. Sok Thy started the first round attacking aggressively, moving forward while Mongkolpetch opted to counter from range. In the second round, Mongkolpetch continued to use his height and reach advantage, keeping Sok Thy at bay with accurate combinations and superior length. In the final frame, Mongkolpetch turned up the intensity, proceeding to outwork Sok Thy en route to a unanimous decision victory after three rounds.

Thai Naksu Champion and ONE Championship veteran Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai spoiled WBC Muay Thai Champion Fabio Pinca’s highly-anticipated mixed martial arts debut, winning by close split decision after three rounds. Wiratchai started strong in the early going, controlling the pace with well-placed counters, and dropping Pinca at the end of the first round. Pinca opened up the second round with slicing elbows on the inside, but a spinning backfist from Wiratchai dropped the Frenchman. In the third and final round, Pinca turned up the aggression as he got more comfortable on the feet. Wiratchai used his superior experience to stay out of harm’s way, edging Pinca out slightly on the judges’ scorecards.

2-time Thailand Muay Thai Champion Wondergirl Fairtex put together a smashing performance, using speed and power to overwhelm WBC Oceania Muay Thai Champion Brooke Farrell of Australia in her ONE Super Series debut. Wondergirl showcased her pinpoint accuracy, connecting on a variety of punch combinations from range. A series of right hands then dropped Farrell just a couple of minutes into the round. As soon as the Australian got back to her feet, Wondergirl swarmed her opponent with straight punches to complete the impressive first round knockout.

In a ONE Super Series atomweight Muay Thai contest, Estonian “Snow Leopard” Marie Ruumet impressed in her ONE Super Series debut, defeating game but overmatched opponent Little Tiger of Japan after three exciting rounds. Ruumet was effective with her reach and timing, staying tall while attacking Tiger with roundhouse kicks, step through elbows, and a stream of powerful knees in the clinch. Though Tiger never backed down, Ruumet’s constant pressure continued through rounds two and three and proved too much for the Japanese athlete to overcome. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Ruumet to win by unanimous decision.

Kicking off the action at ONE: NO SURRENDER III, UKFC Featherweight Champion Ben Royle of the United Kingdom made a successful ONE Championship debut, scoring the first knockout of his career with a TKO victory over the United States’ Quitin Thomas. Though the two athletes are primarily grapplers, the entire bout was spent on the feet as both men preferred to trade strikes at the center of the ONE Championship ring. A leg kick hurt Thomas in the second round, and the American was close to being finished, but Royle had difficulty putting his opponent away. Instead, he put the finishing touches in the third round, stopping Thomas with a perfectly executed standing combination.

Official results for ONE: NO SURRENDER III

• ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Semifinal: Kulabdam Sor. Jor. Piek Uthai defeats Sangmanee Klong SuanPluResort by Knockout (KO) at 2:45 minutes of round 1
• Muay Thai Flyweight: Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy defeats Sok Thy by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
• Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight: Shannon Wiratchai defeats Fabio Pinca by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
• Muay Thai Strawweight: Wondergirl Fairtex defeats Brooke Farrell by Knockout (KO) at 1:21 minutes of round 1
• Muay Thai Atomweight: Marie Ruumet defeats Little Tiger by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
• Mixed Martial Arts Featherweight: Ben Royle defeats Quitin Thomas by TKO (Strikes) at 3:27 minutes of round 3

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit https://www.onefc.com/about-us/, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Amir Ali Akbari

Amir Ali Akbari, Iranian former gold medalist and Greco-Roman wrestling world champion, is ultra-motivated to resume his career in ONE Championship, after the 32-year-old recently signed with the Singapore-based promotion earlier this month. Ali Akbari’s move to the ONE Circle considered one of the most feared mixed martial artists in the world. Comes as ONE recently bolstered its heavyweight division with a plethora of new signings which include former UFC star Arjan Bhullar, grappling legends Tom DeBlass and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, among others.

Excited to wreak havoc on the ONE heavyweights, Ali Akbari revealed his thought process in his decision to join the world’s largest martial arts organization.

“I had many great offers from many promotions but ONE Championship was the only promotion that saw my vision. For ONE, it wasn’t just another contract but rather a bridge they were willing to build between me and my country and MMA. This was very important for me,” said Ali Akbari, who is proud to represent Iran on the global stage.

“ONE Championship has many great fighters and I enjoy watching their fights. No specific names come to mind but I enjoy watching all their fights as their level of competition is very high and tactical.”

Filipino-American mixed martial arts icon Brandon “The Truth” Vera is the reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion. The 42-year-old veteran has held the title since 2015, and has twice successfully defended the belt.

Entering the title picture behind his impressive 10-1 professional mixed martial arts record, which includes 7 knockouts, Aliakbari knows exactly who he wants in his first appearance in the ONE Circle. Despite many great potential matchups to be made, he wants Vera immediately and vows to end The Truth’s reign in spectacular fashion.

“I only want one fight and that’s Brandon Vera. This is the fight to make. None of these heavyweights can last in the cage or ring with me, including Brandon,” said Aliakbari, throwing a challenge out to the king of the division.

“I ask ONE to give me Brandon and I promise to smash him brutally.”

Aliakbari has grand visions of his career moving forward. After taking the ONE Heavyweight World Championship, the 32-year-old Iranian superstar plans on sweeping the division, and then calling out the rest of the heavyweights around the world.

“I envision having the belt wrapped around me and defending it for many years to come. After I take the belt, I want to defend it successfully and clear out the division,” Aliakbari concluded.

“After doing so, I want to raise the ONE championship flag high and challenge other promotions’ heavyweights to step up and see who the real baddest man on the planet is.”

Vera is currently penciled in to face Indian wrestling star Arjan Bhullar in his next defense of the ONE Heavyweight World Title, although that bout has yet to be finalized and confirmed.

Heavyweight is one of ONE Championship’s hottest divisions right now, and Vera is surrounded by legitimate threats to his throne. Without a doubt, Aliakbari is a tremendous addition to a pool of sharks ready to chomp at the bits.

Number one ranked ONE Championship female atomweight Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga is keeping busy in Thailand, training and staying ready in case she gets the call to compete in an upcoming card in Bangkok.

Bouts for ONE Championship’s A NEW BREED events through August and September have yet to be announced, and Zamboanga is holding out hope that she can return to the ONE Circle sooner rather than later.

With lockdown restrictions tightening in her native Philippines due to a worsening Covid-19 situation, Zamboanga is left without much of a choice but to stay in Thailand. Accompanying her in the ‘Land of a Thousand Smiles’ is her older brother, Drex, and their friend Fritz Biagtan. Together, they are preparing Zamboanga for a potential upcoming bout.

“Right now I’m just training here in Bangkok with my brother Drex and our friend Fritz Biagtan. I’m very lucky because I can still do what I love to do,” said Zamboanga.

“I just want to stay ready, because anytime, I can get called up to compete now that ONE Championship is hosting events here in Thailand.”

ONE Championship successfully returned to its flagship event schedule with ONE: NO SURRENDER last 31 July. The promotion has NO SURRENDER II and NO SURRENDER III coming up on 14 August and 21 August respectively, as well as three more shows lined up in Bangkok on 28 August, 11 September and 18 September.

Zamboanga is hoping to appear on at least one of those cards.

“I really want to fight and compete, so I’m just waiting for that call from ONE Championship. Need to stay as sharp as possible, because the World Title shot is just around the corner,” said Zamboanga.

“Right now, I need to work on my speed. Speed is a great asset to have in the ring. Of course, I’m constantly working on my striking skills and ground game. Thankfully my brother is here to help me.”

The 23-year-old rising star also recently revealed that she had parted ways with the Fairtex team in Pattaya to pursue her own ventures.

While at Fairtex, Zamboanga had trained with athletes such as ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex, Nat “Wondergirl Fairtex” Nutchakamon, and Noelle Grandjean. But more than training partners, they had become close friends.

She stresses that there are no ill-feelings between her and Fairtex, and that she will always consider the people she made bonds with there as true allies.

“I love my friends at Fairtex. We are very close. Even though I am no longer with Fairtex, they are all still my friends. Stamp, Nat, Noelle, and all my teammates, and coach DJ. I don’t think that bond can be broken,” said Zamboanga.

Although she’s fixated on training, and possibly competing again in the very near future, Zamboanga can’t help but feel homesick and wanting to return to the Philippines to see her family and friends. But with travel restrictions abound, and varying levels of quarantine measures, it has been impossible to move around.

Still, Zamboanga is enthusiastic about being able to return to the Philippines later this year.

“Hopefully before this year ends, and Thailand opens its airports, and I can fly back, I can go home to the Philippines. Right now the situation is really complicated. I really miss home,” said Zamboanga.

“This is all just a big test, but one test that everyone can get through. I just want to say, stay strong everyone. God has a plan and we just have to have faith.”

Catch your favorite ONE Championship superstars now on Cignal TV and TV5.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), today announced the addition of an incredible line-up of ONE Championship athletes and World Champions who will join ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’ as special guest stars on ONE’s unique version of the hit reality television series.

ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera leads a superstar ensemble that includes ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, ONE Flyweight Grand Prix World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Indian wrestling champion Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat, “Super” Sage Northcutt, and ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan.

One athlete is expected to guest star per episode, and will participate in physical challenges that will test athletic ability and cardio endurance.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am excited to announce the ONE Championship athletes and World Champions ready to join me on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition as special guest stars. Our athletes at ONE Championship are the backbone of our organization. They are real-life, modern day heroes who inspire the world with their incredible stories. Their discipline and wisdom will inspire and mentor our contestants. It is my honor to star alongside these amazing human beings on the show.”

Brandon Vera, ONE Heavyweight World Champion, stated: “It’s a huge honor to be selected as a guest star on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, one of the greatest shows ever. With Chatri [Sityodtong] leading the series, I know it’s going to be amazing. I’ve been dreaming of the possibilities and the many things I can learn from this experience. I’m really excited to be a part of the show and help in any way I can, especially in the physical endurance challenges. I get to go from the gym to the boardroom war tables, let’s make it happen!”

Angela Lee, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, stated: “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is a great opportunity to bring together two very different worlds — martial arts and business, and I’m excited to see how those two worlds unite. I’m honored to be able to share my experiences, my talents, and my presence on the show. Being the youngest mixed martial arts world champion in history, I know I have a lot to offer the contestants as far as experience, and work ethic goes, and I can’t wait to impart some of my knowledge that could help them in their journey. As far as physical challenges go, I am ready!”

Xiong Jing Nan, ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion, stated: “I always love interacting with fans, and now I am honored to have a spot on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. Whatever the challenges may be, whether they are athletic or business challenges, I’m up for it. Of course, I’m also open to learning as much as I can from Chatri, from the contestants, and from the many CEOs also appearing. Getting to share my experience as a World Champion, I can’t wait to get this started and offer what I can to the show. It’s a privilege to be selected among the athlete guest stars, and to be able to represent China globally on one of the biggest television shows in history is a dream come true.”

Ritu Phogat, Indian Wrestling World Champion, stated: “It feels really good to be selected to guest star on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. I feel honored and privileged to appear on the show with so many top leaders of the business world. As an athlete you are always part of a team, a team which consists of players, coaches, managers, doctors, and more, and everyone has their role and everyone helps each other to achieve common goals. Similarly in business, there are individuals with special skill sets and they come together and work together to achieve common and individual goals. It will be very interesting to observe, learn, and connect with my experience on The Apprentice. I’m also looking forward to participating in the physical challenges with the contestants!”

Demetrious Johnson, ONE Flyweight Grand Prix World Champion, stated: “The Apprentice is one of the biggest reality television franchises in history, and it is my absolute pleasure to appear on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. I have no doubt ONE Championship will put a very interesting spin on the traditional format. I’m looking forward to participating in all sorts of challenges, from physical endurance challenges to business challenges.”

Sage Northcutt, ONE Athlete, stated: “I’m so excited to be on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. While martial arts is a lot different from the business world, I’m sure there are also many similarities. I’m excited to appear on the show and learn from Mr. Chatri, a martial artist and an entrepreneur. I’m also looking forward to participating in the physical challenges! I’m super competitive and, as always, I’m going to give it my all. I’m thrilled to be able to help bring the world of martial arts and business together.”

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition will invite sixteen (16) contestants handpicked from around the world to compete in a high-stakes game of business and physical challenges. The winner will receive a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under Sityodtong for a year as his protege in Singapore.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit https://www.onefc.com/about-us/, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

One Championship, Singapore-based martial arts organization lands in Top 10 in Facebook Engagement Among Global Sports Properties, according to figures released by independent social media marketing company Socialbakers. The data was collected between 1 January and 30 June, 2020.

ONE landed in the eighth spot overall, with 46,299,362 interactions, slightly edging out the National Basketball Association (NBA), which sits in the ninth spot at 45,049,463 interactions. ONE is surrounded by some of the most high-profile sports properties in the world, including Manchester United, International Cricket Council (ICC), and LaLiga, among others.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong shared a multimedia infographic and a message to fans of the promotion on his official Facebook.

“Thank you to the greatest fans in the world for inspiring me and my team to dream more, do more, and be more in life!” Sityodtong wrote. https://www.facebook.com/yodchatri/posts/3314787365250068

ONE is the only Asian representative and martial arts property on the list. The Top 10 is mostly dominated by football organizations, with only ONE, the NBA, and ICC representing other sports.

Football is extremely popular in many Asian nations, and it is arguably the most popular sport in the world. Manchester United claimed the top spot on the list with 98,753,757 interactions, which certainly comes as no surprise being the most popular football team in the world.

ONE, meanwhile, features the world’s most exciting martial arts action and enjoys a massive fan base not only in Asia, but also across Europe and South America. Its global footprint projects over 2.7 billion potential viewers worldwide, and it broadcasts events to 150 countries through free-to-air, linear, and digital channels. The promotion has a passionate following among key demographics on social media, particularly on Facebook and Youtube.

Apart from its flagship mixed martial arts product, ONE also offers a striking-only league – ONE Super Series – which hosts kickboxing and Muay Thai contests, as well as reality shows such as ONE Warrior Series and the upcoming The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. It also recently launched a podcast called Franklin Speaking, which stars multiple-time World Champion and mixed martial arts legend Rich “Ace” Franklin.

Socialbakers is a social media data analytics company that provides businesses around the world with data and analytics across multiple platforms. It serves thousands of enterprise brands and SMBs, including over 100 companies on the list of Fortune Global 500.