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After ONE Championship’s massive 2022 comes the new year, with the global martial arts promotion looking to take its product to an even higher tier. As fans of ONE, it’s hard not to get excited about what the organization has in store for us over the next 12 months. There’s definitely a lot to look forward to.
From launching the second season of The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, to hosting its first-ever live event in the United States, ONE Championship is poised to take the industry by storm in 2023.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you’re not sure where to start, we’ve broken it down for you. Here are five reasons why 2023 will be ONE Championship’s biggest year yet.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
#1. ONE Championship’s arrival on U.S. soil
After dominating the Asian market, the largest martial arts organization in the world succeeded with its latest North American invasion in 2022. This was made possible by a bevy of stacked cards streamed live in US primetime and broadcast free of charge for Amazon Prime subscribers in the United States and Canada.
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Now, action-hungy American fans have developed a thirst for the company’s wide array of martial arts action.
Things will get even better in 2023. American fans no longer have to travel to Asia just to witness ONE’s spectacle in person. ONE is coming to the United States and in epic fashion.
The first of many ONE events live on U.S. soil is already set for ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video. The event is set for May 5 at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado.
It will be headlined by a trilogy match between America’s own Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson and Brazil’s Adriano Moraes for the undisputed ONE flyweight world title.
‘DJ’, who’s considered the GOAT in many MMA circles, will surely generate a ton of interest in his return fight on U.S. soil.
#2. Going toe-to-toe with the UFC
A recent combat sports industry report obtained by Sportskeeda offered a collection of eye-opening takeaways about the UFC and ONE, the two global leaders in MMA and other martial arts disciplines.
According to the third-party data, the UFC is No. 1 in areas such as social media followers and roster size, with ONE Championship as a clear No. 2. Globally, ONE surpasses the UFC in many categories, such as broadcast footprint and digital video views.
While the general consensus among many American fans is that the UFC is unrivaled, ONE is clearly on the rise globally and has a real opportunity to create distance between the likes of Bellator, Rizin, and others with their landmark partnerships with Prime Video and Globo/Combate.
Hosting an event in the U.S. for the first time in May, ONE Championship is well-positioned to take more of the Western market share from its mainstream MMA competitor.
#3. Elevating the sport of submission grappling
In terms of combat sports, MMA is still king. However, thanks to ONE Championship, submission grappling is finally getting the limelight and the recognition it truly deserves.
Early on, competitive grappling was only reserved for purists. The sport had minimal global exposure except for select niche tournaments. Some of the best grapplers in the world were also forced to transition to MMA since there were really no lucrative opportunities for them to grow.
That’s a thing of the past, with ONE Championship opening up multiple submission grappling divisions for some of the best male and female athletes in the world. With ONE, disciples of the grappling arts finally found a home where they can showcase their talents on a global stage while making a lot of money.
The company has paved the way for the new generation of grapplers, spearheaded by Mikey Musumeci, the Ruotolo brothers Kade and Tye, and Danielle Kelly, among others.
Plus, the fact that they also get to contend for one of those massive, shiny gold belts is just icing on the cake.
#4. Bringing Muay Thai and kickboxing to North American fans
While mixed martial arts is beloved for its unpredictability, there’s just something astoundingly beautiful about striking-only matches. In its pure essence, Muay Thai and kickboxing matches under the ONE banner capture the perfect blend of technicality and pure savagery.
Let’s not forget that ONE houses the best pure strikers in the world today. For instance, ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon has developed a cult following outside of Asia. His bravado, showmanship, and world-class skills are simply must-see TV.
The same goes for ONE bantamweight Muay Thai king Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, who exemplifies what pure dominance is all about. North American fans certainly appreciate a fighter who consistently maintains a level of greatness.
And of course, there’s the ONE light heavyweight kickboxing world champion Roman Kyrklia, who’s practically a walking anomaly. No big man should be able to move as fast and hit as hard at the same time.
For sure, American fans will enjoy seeing these superstars in the flesh this May.
#5. Taking its Asia primetime product to the next level
The legendary Lumpinee Stadium is no doubt the mecca of Muay Thai. Now, it will also host other martial arts forms made possible by ONE.
Beginning this January 20, the promotion’s year-long venture of weekly shows at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium becomes a reality. There’s no better way to showcase Muay Thai’s allure to the rest of the world than by pitting Nong-O against gutsy challenger Alaverdi Ramazanov at ONE Lumpinee 1.
Once considered as Thailand’s hidden gem, “The art of eight limbs” has truly grown in popularity in recent years. With ONE set to showcase the sport in its purest form and highest level possible, we can expect the sport of Muay Thai to reach even greater heights in 2023.
Furthermore, you can also expect ONE Championship to continue hosting massive live events in major locations such as Tokyo, Manila, Singapore, and the like.
