When it comes to sports that dominate weekend buzz, ONE Championship is always in the spotlight. Since launching in Singapore in 2011, this combat sports powerhouse has exploded onto the global stage, becoming one of the biggest names in martial arts. Though many of its adrenaline-pumping bouts happen in Thailand, the heart of its global operations has stayed in Singapore – until now. Big news: ONE is packing up and heading to Bangkok. That’s right, the capital is about to become the new international production hub of one of the world’s fiercest fight scenes.
In a statement posted on their Facebook page on June 30, the company confirmed the relocation of its production hub from the Lion City to the Big Mango. The decision, it said, was driven by rising production demands, improved logistical efficiency and the growing scale of its flagship weekly series, ONE Friday Fights.
Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong explained, ‘Over the past two and a half years, Thailand has become central to our global content production. As we continue to scale, this move will allow us to centralise operations and improve coordination while increasing our event and content production capabilities.’
The shift comes as the ONE Lumpinee events continue to fuel Asia’s fight scene, now contributing over B16 billion annually to the Thai economy. The weekly bouts are now broadcast to 195 countries during primetime hours across Asia and the momentum isn’t slowing. A brand-new, traditional five-round Muay Thai series is also in the works and slated to debut later this year.
While this move marks a major shift, Singapore will continue to serve as a corporate headquarters, handling investor relations, strategic planning and senior leadership operations.
To date, the martial arts organisation has staged over 50 events annually at Lumpinee Stadium. It’s clear that the kingdom is no longer just the setting for the action – it’s now driving it, both in and out of the ring.
With ONE’s bold leap and Thailand’s growing ambition including the buzz around potentially bringing Formula 1 to the country, we are racing toward becoming a global sports tourism hotspot. So, what’s next on the horizon? Which major sporting event do you think we will host next?