ONE Championship: MMA ‘back in full force’ in 2024 calendar, more than 60 events ‘around the world’
- Asia-based promotion heading back to ‘key markets’ – and breaking new ground in Europe – with ‘focus firmly back on mixed martial arts’
- ‘Next year is going to be a record high number of events. I think that will get fans and athletes super pumped,’ CEO Chatri says
Mixed martial arts will return to the forefront in ONE Championship next year, with more than 60 events set for 2024 including multiple new locations.
Muay Thai took centre stage this year in the Asia-based martial arts promotion after the launch of the weekly ONE Friday Fights product at Lumpinee Stadium.
That pushed MMA to the background, somewhat, with several divisions stalling and some fighters venting frustrations on social media, while only three events have been held outside Bangkok in 2023.
“You’re going to see MMA back in full force,” Chatri said. “We have our US stadium shows, we have Qatar, Japan. In the Philippines we have one or two shows.
“ONE Friday Fights and the Muay Thai product are very much on a firm footing now. We’ve laid the groundwork and feel very comfortable it’s running on autopilot, and now we’re able to scale up. We’ve firmly established we have the No 1 striking property on the planet. The focus will be sharply back onto mixed martial arts.
ONE: Christian Lee set to return in February for title defence
“The event calendar for next year is going to come out early next week. We will be announcing north of 60 events. When you add everything we are doing in the coming months, maybe 70, maybe more.
“We have a bunch of others in the works. We are going back to key markets. I’m very excited for the announcement.
“The next chapter of 2024 is going to be a record high number of events for us across all different martial arts, around the world in different locations. I think that will get fans and athletes super pumped. I’d rather not comment too early right now.”
“It was a joint decision between ONE and all key stakeholders in Qatar to move the event date from December 1 to March 1,” Chatri said.
“First and foremost, it is the right decision, given the sensitive circumstances in the region. Also, the war broke out right in the middle of our execution.
“The good news for fans and athletes is that March 1 is 100 per cent happening in Doha. Thank you to all of the stakeholders in Qatar for making it possible.
Pacio, Brooks set for ONE Championship title rematch in early 2024
“I was just on a matchmaking team call and they’re discussing fights, it’s a slight change from the main events we were talking about for the original date, but it’s still going to be a crazy card, with some of the world’s best world championship martial artists on the card.
“We’re going to be announcing in the coming days some of the world title fights.”
Chatri also confirmed that ONE will be returning to Japan for “two very big events” in 2024, with a press conference planned for the end of the month in Tokyo.
Takeru Segawa is likely to be making his debut on the first of them, which is reportedly set for the end of January. The Japanese former K-1 Kickboxing champion is in fight camp in California, but his potential opponent is unknown.
“I don’t think Takeru is training so hard for no reason,” Chatri said. “When I look at his Instagram, I think ‘my goodness this guy is a monster’.
“I would love to announce it right now but I’m under the shackles because of the big announcement that will be coming in the next couple of weeks.”
Chatri also heavily hinted ONE Championship will be making its debut in Europe next year.
“Yeah, knock on wood, I think in the next couple of weeks I will be making a major announcement for Europe, our biggest for Europe in our history.” he said. “It’s very exciting.”
