ONE Championship will embark on its landmark deal with Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, January 20. The deal will see ONE promote weekly events from the legendary martial arts venue, beginning with Muay Thai icon Nong-O Gaiyanghadao defending the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship against Alaverdi Ramazanov. The showcase of the legendary stadium has captured the attention of fans around the world, including UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
“I’m very happy to hear about the partnership between ONE and Lumpinee Stadium. I think it’s a great move for the whole Muay Thai world. ONE is the greatest organization in Asia. I really enjoy watching their fights and following them on Instagram. I think their concept of showing fighters in competition, in training, and in real life is very interesting. It attracts more and more fans from all over the world,” said Shevchenko.
The deal, announced this past September, is a massive investment into the future of Muay Thai. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that in the coming years ONE would invest $100 million into the sport through marketing, athlete pay, marketing, and athlete safety. The events will feature not only Muay Thai but also kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and submission grappling.
Shevchenko has a storied history in the sport of Muay Thai. Her love for the sport is one reason she is excited about the Lumpinee deal for ONE. And “Bullet” made it known that she would love to attend one of the future events and see the spectacle up close and personal.
“The CEO of ONE, Chatri Sityodtong, is doing amazing things for the development of martial arts, and now this new step will provide more attention to this incredible, strong, and beautiful martial art. I think this step is much more important than the inclusion of Thai boxing in the Olympic program. Lumpinee Stadium is an iconic place for Muay Thai fighters. It represents the tradition and spirit of the sport. I would be very happy to attend one of these events in the future.”
ONE Lumpinee 1 airs live on Friday, January 20. Stay tuned for more bout announcements and broadcast information, as the series will be available in more than 170 countries.
