ONE Championship’s China push takes further root
ONE Championship’s push to have China part of its growth takes further legs later this week as it plays for the first time in Shanghai with “ONE Championship: Shanghai.”
While it will not be the first time that Asia’s largest sports media property will be descending on mainland China, still the event, happening on Sept. 2 at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, has ONE officials very excited, viewing it as another inroad on their part to cut a major slice in the lucrative martial arts scene in China.
“There is always a tremendous atmosphere and excitement when ONE Championship visits China, and it is a delight to finally announce our maiden event in the beautiful city of Shanghai. We are coming at you live and ready to showcase the world’s most authentic display of martial arts,” said ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong in the run- up to the upcoming China event.
For ONE in Shanghai, world welterweight champion Ben “Funky” Askren of the United States will stake his title against challenger Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam of Sweden.
Mr. Askren, 33, is universally recognized as one of the best welterweight fighters today and one of the best in the world poundfor-pound.
He holds an unblemished professional record of 16-0, including 4-0 in ONE, with five submission wins and four knockout victories.
Mr. Askren, highly regarded for his outstanding wrestling background, is coming off a spectacular first- round submission triumph over Malaysia’s Agilan “The Alligator” Thani last May, keeping his immaculate standing intact and the ONE Welterweight World Championship belt around his waist.
Looking to take the title away from Mr. Askren is Swede Kadestam, who made an impressive ONE debut last time around with a third-round knockout win ( knees) over Luis Santos in May.
Mr. Kadestam, 26, holds an outstanding professional record of 9-3 and is a tremendous competitor with a wide array of striking and grappling technique. Moreover, seven of his nine career victories have come by way of knockout. His impressive ONE debut quickly earned him a title opportunity.
“We have an exhilarating main event prepared for our fans in Shanghai as Ben Askren makes another defense of his ONE Welterweight World Championship against Swedish standout Zebaztian Kadestam. The interesting clash of styles should provide fans a solid matchup,” Mr. Sityodtong said about the five-round welterweight championship clash.
Also featured in ONE Championship: Shanghai is the battle between former ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa and Japanese veteran Tatsuya Yamada.
ONE Championship made its first foray in China in 2014. Since then the organization has held seven blockbuster events in total with five taking place on the mainland.
Now on its eighth live event, Mr. Sityodtong guarantees that ONE Championship’s inaugural event in Shanghai will be a night to remember.
“China is one of our biggest markets, and the focus has been to really bring the rich cultural history of martial arts in China to the forefront,” he said.