If 2023 was the year in which ONE Championship became synonymous with Thailand’s historic Stadium, then 2024 looks set to be notable for an international expansion.
“I think of it as chapters in a book. Last year was the chapter of making sure we had the world’s greatest striking product at Lumpinee and we did that. We delivered numbers not just in Thailand but all over the world.”
ONE 165 took place in Tokyo in January, and the promotion then headed to Qatar for the first time with ONE 166 in March. Besides the different locations, Chatri says these numbered events are an opportunity to showcase fighters from across the combat sport spectrum.
“The next chapter is going back to our roots, which is martial arts. Having the best MMA fighters, kick-boxers, the best Muay Thai fighters, the best grapplers … so you are seeing more numbered events.”
There weren’t any numbered events in 2023. It was Chatri’s first year promoting fights at Lumpinee Stadium and the ONE Championship founder and CEO says this was his main focus.
“Last year after I was invited to come to Lumpinee and be its largest promoter, I was so focused on (that). My team has done a phenomenal job laying the foundations of ONE Lumpinee – it’s the most watched show in the history of the country, and it’s the most watched show on Friday night out of any content stack.
“Sports, entertainment, you name it. No one can beat our ratings.”
ONE 167 in June will be headlined by an atomweight title fight between Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga. Chatri confirmed that reigning flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon would also be on the card.
“Rodtang will be on that card, him and his opponent accepted and it’s going to be a banger of a fight.”
It sounds like that will be a non-title fight. The opponent will not be Takeru (Segawa) but Chatri confirmed he was hoping to match the Japanese superstar with Rodtang in Japan later this year.
“I really want to do Takeru v Rodtang this year. Takeru is injured but that will happen later this year when we go back to Japan.”
Another fight that could find its way onto the ONE 167 card is the strawweight kickboxing title match between Prajanchai PK Saenchaigym and Jonathan Di Bella. It had originally been slated to take place last Friday night but the Canadian had to pull out at the last minute.
As a result, Di Bella was stripped of the title but Chatri plans to offer him an immediate shot at the belt, which is now vacant.
“He lost his belt from missing hydration and I want to do that fight probably next month since both fighters are fit and in good shape. I’m sure it will take a few days for Jonathan to recover but since they are fit I don’t think they need an eight-week camp.”
Although Di Bella lost his belt, it does not sound as if Chatri bears any animosity towards the Canadian who was hospitalised just hours before he was scheduled to host ONE Friday Fights 58 last week.
“He made weight but missed hydration and I don’t know what happened but his father said Jonathan caught the flu or something and it didn’t come out until after the weigh-ins; he just started feeling ill and then he went to the hospital and got an IV in the hospital because he was sick, throwing up.”
Since starting ONE Championship in 2011, Chatri has written several chapters, as he says.
From accepting female fighters for the first time to diversifying beyond MMA to promote kickboxing, Muay Thai, boxing and submission grappling matches, his organisation has continued to expand and evolve.
Events have already been booked for the US and Thailand, and it will be interesting to see where else Chatri takes his promotion in the coming months.
