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#2. The birth of ONE Super Series
In February 2018, ONE Championship grew from being a strong MMA promotion to a major league in all martial arts.
They established the now-famous ONE Super Series, a separate division of the company that showcases Muay Thai and kickboxing. This decision to expand out of MMA is one of the best decisions made by ONE. The sport was getting saturated and by featuring fights in Muay Thai and kickboxing, ONE catered to a wider audience, if not providing a breath of fresh air.
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Granted, they have dipped their toes in other combat sports before ONE Super Series, particularly submission grappling matches. However, by establishing separate weight classes and championships, ONE made itself the Home of Martial Arts today.
They initially signed legends like Giogio Petrosyan, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Fabio Pinca, among others, to start their roster. In the years that followed, ONE Super Series produced some of the most heart-stopping moments in pro fighting, meaning it almost got bigger than ONE itself.
It got so big that one of its champions, ONE flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang, is fighting MMA icon and household name Demetrious Johnson at ONE X this weekend.
Not only did ONE Super Series help ONE Championship reach new heights, it also helped bring Muay Thai and kickboxing into mainstream consciousness.
#1. ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion - where it all began
Of course, the most significant milestone in ONE Championship history, regardless of anything they accomplish in the future, is their very first event. Without it, none of the things mentioned on this list would ever happen.
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong said that the reason why he founded ONE was because he understood that martial arts is a "cultural treasure" in Asia. Yet, there was no organization to unite the continent.
So in September 2011, ONE (called ONE Fighting Championship at the time) held its first event ever, ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion. The rest, as they say, was history.
The event had 10 bouts with six finishes, headlined by ONE mainstay Eduard 'The Landslide' Folayang and A Sol Kwon, who was replacing an injured Ole Laursen. The commentary team included MMA legend Bas Rutten, while ONE VP of operations and legendary MMA coach Matt Hume officiated the main event.
Despite the fact that ONE has since topped this event with countless others in the years that followed, the potential seen that night gave way to where they are now.
