ONE Championship Releases Four MMA Fighters Including Flyweight Legend

ONE Championship has parted ways with four MMA fighters from its roster.

Former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano Moraes, former ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam, former ONE Featherweight MMA World Title challenger Ilya Freymanov, and former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title challenger Mauro Cerilli have all been released by the promotion. The news was first reported by Bangkok Post.

The promotion has not revealed official reasons behind the releases. However, the recent performances of all four fighters inside the ring could be a contributing factor. ONE Championship has since updated its official website, tagging all four athletes as “released” on their respective pages.

These departures close the book on a combined promotional career spanning well over 100 fights across multiple weight classes and generations of ONE Championship history. All the fighters have held or challenged for gold inside the ring.

Adriano Moraes Departs After Historic ONE Championship Run

Few fighters have left a mark on ONE Championship as deep as Adriano Moraes. The 37-year-old Brazilian, based in the United States, departs as an eight-time ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion with 12 World Title fights and an 11-6 ONE record to his name.

His greatest moment came at ONE on TNT I in 2021, when he knocked out MMA GOAT Demetrious Johnson in the second round, becoming the first fighter ever to stop one of the sport’s most celebrated fighters.

His final stretch in ONE, however, proved difficult. Adriano Moraes lost three of his last four fights before the promotion made the decision to move on, closing the book on an era that shaped the flyweight division for years.

Since the release, Adriano Moraes has agreed to face undefeated British fighter Muhammad Mokaev on the undercard of MVP’s Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano event on May 16.

Kadestam Released After Rollercoaster Promotional Tenure

Like Adriano Moraes, Kadestam’s journey in ONE Championship was defined by extreme highs and painful lows. The 35-year-old Swede made his promotional debut in 2017 with a knockout victory before earning a shot at legendary titleholder Ben Askren in his very next fight, a challenge that ended in a TKO loss.

Rather than derail his career, that setback served as a launching pad. In 2018, Kadestam claimed the vacant ONE Welterweight MMA World Title by defeating American star Tyler McGuire, writing his name into Swedish combat sports history. All seven of his ONE victories came via finish, making him one of the most entertaining welterweights of his era.

His most recent appearance came in 2025, where he suffered a TKO loss to former ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La N Sang. Kadestam departs with a 7-5 ONE record and a 15-8 career mark.

Ilya Freymanov and Mauro Cerilli Also Depart the Promotion

Adriano Moraes and Zebaztian Kadestam weren’t the only fighters released. Freymanov leaves with a 2-1 promotional record and a 12-3 career mark. The Russian won his first two ONE bouts via finish before suffering a loss to former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Thanh Le in 2023, a result that proved to be his final appearance on the global stage.

Cerilli’s run in ONE spanned seven fights, producing a 3-4 promotional record across the heavyweight division. The 43-year-old Italian holds a 15-6 overall MMA record and suffered defeats to former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champions Brandon Vera and Arjan Bhullar during his tenure.

The releases of all four fighters suggest ONE Championship is actively reshaping its roster heading into a busy stretch of events, making room for the next generation of talent across multiple weight classes.