We are ONE.
It’s a popular mantra of sorts for the Asia-based promotion sweeping the global martial arts scene by storm in recent years. What once began as a slogan for inclusion, “We are ONE” has become an embodiment of the spirit and values of the ONE Championship team.
MixedMartialArts.com was given a behind-the-scenes look in Denver, Colorado for the promotions domestic debut, which featured an incredible night of combat sports action inside the cage, and a resounding positive energy outside of it.
The buzz was palpable cageside as the arena was more than 80 percent full from the time of the first bout, a rarity in US combat sports. By the time the fights began on Amazon Prime Video, the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield was packed to the brim with an excited fanbase that had, to this point, only seen the global giant on their small screens. The high fight IQ of the fans was a marvel for both press and staff sitting in the scrum box. If there was a boo, or a “Woo,” it went unheard amidst the soldout crowd.
Star athlete Stamp Fairtex acknowledged as much in her post-fight media availability after the curtain had closed.
“I was very surprised – and very inspired – when the crowd was going crazy as I came out. They gave me so much energy to perform,” she said.
When it came to the action inside the cage, the ONE Championship roster put its best foot forward, with seven of nine fights on the main card ending before the final bell. Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Mikey Musumeci, Stamp, Zebaztian Kadestam and Sage Northcutt all took home performance bonuses for their stellar finishes, with commentator Mitch Chilson roaring the news to fans and athletes alike inside the cage immediately following the wins.
In the main event, Demetrious Johnson – widely considered one of, if not the best, MMA fighter of all-time – closed out his trilogy against Adriano Moraes with a clean decision win over the Brazilian dynamo. After the fight, “Mighty Mouse” mulled retirement, a topic brought up frequently heading into this bout, with many, including ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong, hoping this isn’t the last time we see DJ fight.
This event felt special in more ways than a Wikipedia table can say. The crowd response to the explosive walk-outs, featuring pyrotechnics and massive video board production elements, was simply unmatched. The high level of martial arts, across many disciplines and rulesets, was a sight to behold to which only those in attendance for this landmark event can attest.
Submission grappling wunderkind Musumeci acknowledged this in his media scrum.
“It was definitely good feedback. I felt the energy from the crowd. Being here in America was amazing. It was definitely exciting – the submission grappling match. That’s the first thing I asked (Chatri) when he came to the cage, ‘Was it exciting? Was it fine?’” he said
“I was so nervous, because submission grappling can be boring for the viewership if they don’t know what it is. So, I really wanted to make sure that the fans could appreciate and enjoy it just like the other martial arts on the ONE card.”
Behind-the-scenes after the event, our staff joined the ONE team at their private afterparty for food and libations. A collective air of relief, excitement, and accomplishment filled the room, as athletes like Kadestam and Stamp joined to eat tacos to very little fanfare.
As spectators, we watch gladiators enter a raised pedestal of combat as we cheer for blood and violence, reminiscent of the athletes in the Roman Coliseum. As humans, we all understand the relief of a cold drink after a hard day’s work. To see the two blend so seamlessly with a dash of pride as the cherry to the Manhattan was a true honor that nobody in the building will soon forget.
In mingling with other combat sports journalists, ONE staff, honored guests, VIPs and athletes, one thing rang true: gratitude.
Every man and woman in the arena, backstage, and at the afterparty began the conversation or introduction with a beam of pride. Journalists spoke like they had just witnessed history and felt sad for those who had chosen to miss the event. ONE staff discussed all the work that they had put in to get to this point and also alluded to the work ahead to keep the proverbial ball rolling. Fighters, well, fighters drank whiskey from an open bottle in the fighter hotel lobby well after the “last call” rang through the city of Denver, celebrating their victories.
Sityodtong echoed the gratitude of his team at the event’s post-fight press conference.
“I just want to thank the fans all over the (United) States. Man, I’m just so full of gratitude and appreciation. Like I said, America gave me the opportunity to escape poverty and live the American dream. To come back here – it just blows my mind the energy today in the stadium,” he said.
While the promotion is unsure about what their plans are for the future in the U.S., one thing is certain, ONE Championship has put their stamp on the combat sports world, and they’re here to stay.
