ONE Championship is on the verge of a big return. ONE CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong is prepping the largest sports media property in Asia for a summer return per The Associated Press.
No date or venue has been finalized, but Sityodtong is working with government and health officials in China, Thailand, and Singapore to prepare the martial arts organization for its upcoming return.
The global pandemic sidelined their 2020 slate, but as the world slowly begins to open up the pathway to a live event is on the horizon.
The concerns around COVID-19 has made ONE more cautious in returning to their 2020 schedule.
Sityodtong told The AP, “Of course I give mad respect to Dana White for having the courage and the vision to pull off events in such a tricky time.”
“At One Championship, we have the same level of intensity, but I would say we are a little more prudent because safety is our highest priority. We are not in a rush to come back just for the sake of coming back due to our financial commitments to broadcasters and brands and whatnot. We want to come back in an environment where we are sure that we can do it safely for all parties involved.”
A significant hurdle to cross for the promotion’s return to making sure all the proper steps are taken to comply with international policies. Each country has different policies regarding how they are approaching the pandemic, which also affects visas for its athletes.
“Different governments have different policies on their borders, as well as their lockdown policies, so that’s been a little bit tricky in getting everything up and running,” Sityodtong stated.
“But my team and I have been working on it nonstop, and we feel pretty good about it.”
The charismatic leader of ONE is not just looking at the next event, Sityodtong also keeps his eye on the landscape of the sport while seeking to bring in its top talent.
Sityodtong said, “We’re always talking to the top free agents around the world.”
“Many managers have reached out to us, and we’re definitely interested in adding to our roster. I am a fan of Jorge Masvidal. There’s a lot of great guys out there. But we’re not going to do anything that would infringe upon contracts with the UFC.”
Once ONE is back to running events, expect a full slate as Sityodtong plans to run as many events as possible, providing an opportunity for its athletes to compete on the global stage.
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