The Thai capital was brimming with excitement, as fans and media showed up at Bangkok’s W Hotel for the official “ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov” press conference on Wednesday.
In attendance was ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, managing director of ONE Championship Thailand Prem Busarabavonwongs, and several of the superstars competing on Friday night’s stacked card.
After a moment of silence to honor the late Victoria Lee, Sityodtong made a series of major announcements. Here is everything that he announced during the ONE Fight Night 6 press conference.
Openweight muay Thai world grand prix with $1 million on the line
True to its promise to elevate muay Thai to unprecedented new heights, ONE will host its biggest and most ambitious tournament yet with pride, glory and riches on the line.
Sityodtong announced the historic ONE openweight muay Thai world grand prix, where 16 of the best strikers on the planet will collide for a $1million grand prize.
An ecstatic Sityodtong told the audience inside the W Hotel:
“Fans all over the world, please tell me who you wanna see. Do you wanna see Superbon? Do you wanna see Rodtang? Who do you wanna see because this is an openweight grand prix.”
“I promise you this will blow up the sport all over the world. With our global broadcast, people will be tuning in from all over the world. The very best – the very, very, very best, irrespective of weight class – muay Thai world champions will be competing. Sixteen of the world’s best.”
Stamp Fairtex to fight Anissa Meksen for interim atomweight kickboxing world title
The rivalry between Stamp Fairtex and Anissa Meksen will continue to intensify after their mixed rules superfight this weekend.
Sityodtong announced that the two female strikers will vie for the ONE interim atomweight kickboxing world title. If all goes well, the high-stakes matchup could take place as soon as next month.
The ONE Chairman and CEO said:
“Today, I’m announcing the interim kickboxing world title fight. After their fight on Saturday, they will face each other – either February if they’re injury-free, if not, then March.”
ONE Championship to donate ฿10 million to small muay Thai gyms in Thailand
The organization may be hosting its first-ever ONE Lumpinee card next week and Sityodtong may have announced the ONE openweight muay Thai world grand prix moments earlier at the press conference, but his mission to elevate the striking art doesn’t stop there.
Sityodtong also said that he wants to make an impact on the grassroots level in Thailand through an immensely generous donation of ฿10 million (approximately $299,102 USD) for struggling gyms all over the country.
He offered:
“I’m making a 10 million baht donation. I’m doing a Thailand tour to the smallest gyms all over Thailand. We are doing this on January 28.
“The week of January 28, myself, our managing director Khun Prem (Busarabavonwongs), Khun Dang (General Suchart Dangprapai) from the Royal Thai Army, Plai (Jitinat), our president from Thailand, and myself, we’ll be doing a Thailand tour all over Thailand to donate 10 million baht to revive all the smaller gyms and smaller camps. And this is just the start. You’ll see.”
This story first published at ONEFC.com.
