‘Sexyama’ Choo Sung-hoon’s soaring popularity is ONE Championship’s ticket into South Korea
- The 47-year-old MMA veteran has transformed from cult hero to mainstream celebrity after a stint on the Netflix hit ‘Physical: 100’
- ONE should capitalise on Japanese-Korean’s exploding popularity with an event in Seoul, which has been in the works since 2019
ONE Championship has had its eyes on South Korea for years, but the promotion has yet to promote an event in the country.
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 Korea-based fitness enthusiasts and athletes compete against each other in demanding physical challenges.
Despite being 47 years old, and having a long and gruelling MMA career behind him, he was also one of the most successful competitors on the show, which trended No 1 on Netflix in several Asian countries.
Sexyama’s social media following has exploded since the show first aired in January, transforming him from a cult hero among hardcore MMA fans into a mainstream celebrity. ONE, with whom he is under exclusive contract, stands to benefit greatly from his massive popularity, particularly as it pertains to expanding in Korea.
The promotion has had plans for the country for years, and even scheduled an event in the capital city of Seoul on December 20, 2019. That debut was pushed back – and then postponed indefinitely as the Covid-19 pandemic began to grip the world – but the delay is beginning to look serendipitous.
A ONE event in Korea would be far buzzier in 2023 than it would have been back then, especially if Sexyama is involved.
ONE would not having a difficult time convincing the 47-year-old to fight at an event in the country, either.
He has been campaigning for the promotion to come to his ancestral homeland since he first joined the roster, frequently expressing his desire to give the next generation of Korean fighters an international platform. And despite his age, he is also still competing – and winning.
“I’m 48 now and I want to compete at least until the age of 50,” he said. “I think I want to fight once this year, but I guess there may be an event in South Korea so I’m going to focus on that. There has been no confirmation of anything yet though.”
‘Sexyama’ wants MMA title after ‘Physical 100’, will fight until 50
Sexyama is not the only Korean fighter ONE could call upon for a debut event in the country.
While the 47-year-old has been enjoying his new-found popularity, his countrywoman Ham Seo-hee – an MMA veteran with even more pro experience – has asserted herself as the top contender in ONE’s glamorous atomweight division.
It is unlikely Ham will get a crack at undisputed champion Angela Lee any time soon – the Canadian-American is currently mourning her younger sister, who died last December – but CEO Chatri Sityodtong recently revealed that she is likely to fight for an interim belt next.
When Sexyama’s exploding popularity and Ham’s evolution into title contender are considered, it begins to look as though the stars are aligning perfectly for a ONE show in Korea this year.
If the promotion were to debut in the country with Ham fighting for a title in the main event, and Sexyama taking on another veteran in the co-main event, it is difficult to imagine the result being anything but a blockbuster success in a massive and lucrative market.
Granted, ONE seems to be focused almost exclusively on its imminent debut in the United States, which is set for May 5 in Denver, Colorado. But once that event has come to pass, the promotion would be wise to shifting its focus to Korea – and soon.
If it fails to do so, it might miss the peak of Sexyama’s popularity, or worse, miss what remains of his competitive career altogether. He might have performed well on Physical: 100, but as the old combat sports adage says, Father Time is undefeated.
