While most combat sport organisations use trash-talking as part of their marketing gimmick, this is definitely not the case for ONE Championship.
Being Asia’s largest sports media property, the Singapore-based promotion prefers to adapt the traditional values of martial arts — integrity, humility, honour, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion.
According to Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, ONE Championship’s mission is to unleash heroes who inspire fans to achieve their dreams, and this is what differentiates ONE with its rivals.
“We don’t sell fights like every other organisation in the world.
“We build heroes who ignite the world with hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration,” he said during his opening speech at ONE: A New Era’s promotional event at Ritz Carlton, here, Thursday.
As a lifelong martial artist himself, Chatri believes that the biggest misconception about martial arts is that it is about fighting and violence.
Instead, he opines that the true beauty of martial arts should be based on its values and the incredible stories told by its heroes.
“I want the world to see the true beauty of martial arts. Our heroes, our world champions, they exemplify the very best of humanity,” he added.
ONE: A New Era is the first ever ONE Championship event to take place in Japan.
Dubbed as “the biggest martial arts event in world history”, the event will be held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, this March 31.
READ: Kevin Belingon, Bibiano Fernandes trilogy bout added to ONE: A New Era
It will be headlined by ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang of the Philippines defending his title against Japanese mixed martial arts legend Shinya Aoki.
In addition, reigning ONE women’s strawweight world champion Xiong Jing Nan of China will defend her belt against ONE women’s atomweight world champion Angela Lee of Singapore.
ONE middleweight world champion Aung La N Sang of Myanmar will also defend his world title against Ken Hasegawa of Japan.
Added to the card is the title clash between ONE bantamweight world champion Kevin Belingon of the Philippines against former titleholder Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil.
Also seeing action on the card is Demetrious Johnson, who takes on Yuya Wakamatsu in a quarter-final bout of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, while Eddie Alvarez faces dangerous Russian adversary Timofey Nastyukhin in a quarter-final of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.
Haider Yutim
Thu Mar 28 2019
CHATRI: We build heroes who ignite the world with hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration. - ONE photo
Gaza Arab plan may involve up to $20 billion regional contribution, sources say
Arab states plan a Gaza post-war strategy to oppose Trumps proposal for US control and Palestinian displacement.
Lebanese search for dead in devastated villages as Israel withdraws
Hezbollah says Israel was still occupying Lebanese territory and put the onus on the Lebanese state to get Israeli forces out.
China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands
Beijing looks to improve its foothold in a region historically under the US sphere of influence.
Major risks loom as Trump upends US Russia policy
Washington's approach changes dramatically with the initial meeting between US and Russian negotiators.
Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says
Doctors say a polymicrobial infection occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court
Sara Duterte makes her first legal move to fight the case that could lead to her removal and lead to a lifetime ban from public office.
Motor racing - Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch
I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything's new and I'm just focused on what is up ahead, Hamilton says.
UAE tells US' Rubio it rejects displacement of Palestinians
The UAE's stance matters as its one of four Arab nations that normalised ties with Israel during Trumps first term.
Taylor Swift wins recording artist of the year crown for fifth time
The megastar's "The Tortured Poets Department" record also topped four IFPI charts, the IFPI says.
More than $50 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, World Bank joint assessment says
Years of rebuilding work, including clearing unexploded ordinance and millions of tonnes of rubble lie ahead.
Malaysia’s AI data centre development to be impacted by recent US restrictions - Liew
Liew Chin Tong says the restrictions would not affect the development of the domestic data centre ecosystem as a whole.
Sweden's top court rejects Greta Thunberg lawsuit on climate action
A court cannot decide that the parliament or the government must take any specific action, the Supreme Court says.
![[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-10/51728873693_EMIR.jpg "[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream")
[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream
The Gaza plan is dangerous and counter-productive as it's merely another recipe for regional instability.
Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings
After climbing to a career-best world number seven, national women's squash ace S. Sivasangari is determined to keep rising.
Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says the disciplinary committee has not received any reports related to the incident so far.
US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data
The case raises questions about Musk's apparent unchecked authority as a top deputy to President Donald Trump.
Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach
Rescue crews trying to save the majority of the large dolphins that survived the ordeal, according to authorities.
Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue
The AP, citing editorial standards, says it would continue to use the gulf's established name.
China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says
This is part of a multinational effort to crack down on illegal online operations run from the region.
Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC
Tiger Woods makes his first start since the death of his mother when he competed in a TGL match at Palm Beach Gardens.