3 Reasons Why 2023 Was ONE Championship's Greatest Year

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It's safe to say that ONE Championship had a busy 2023. With more events than ever before, the world's largest martial arts organization continued their quest to showcase the world's best combat sports.

And as a result, ONE accomplished a number of impressive feats this year. From super-fights to setting foot on new soil, here are three reasons why 2023 was ONE's greatest year.

Rodtang vs. Superlek Super-Fight

This past September, ONE Friday Fights 34 played host to the biggest fight in Muay Thai in recent history when ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon collided with ONE flyweight kickboxing king Superlek Kiatmoo9.

The affair was a long time in the making, attracting huge audiences from the world over, waiting with bated breath to see who would prevail. Undoubtedly, it was the biggest fight of the year for the organization. The atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium proved that.

And the reception around the world only further cemented it. The full fight received over two million views on YouTube in less than two days, with industry frontrunners like Joe Rogan singing praises over the fight on his podcast.

Ultimately, Superlek earned the unanimous decision following his second-round knockdown. But given the narrow margin of the fight, fans would love to see a sequel in 2024.

ONE Championship U.S. Debut

For over 10 years now, ONE Championship has set the precedent as the top dog in the East. But this past May, the promotion set sail to the U.S. for the very first time with ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver, Colorado - where MMA officially began in 1993.

Headlining ONE Fight Night 10 was the biggest MMA bout in the promotion's history when ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson met former king Adriano Moraes in a rubber match.

Johnson left with the unanimous decision, the gold, and the final say over the Brazilian. But the rest of the card also saw multiple stars break through in front of a brand new audience.

Sage Northcutt triumphantly returned in less than a minute after four years away. Rodtang was emphatically introduced to the U.S. crowd. And Stamp Fairtex lit up the arena in signature style en route to a second-round TKO.

The show was a humongous success. And the star-making night proved to be the catalyst for ONE as the promotion plans to return to the U.S. four times in 2024.

ONE Friday Fights Series

Throughout 2023, ONE has placed Muay Thai at the forefront of its vision. And through the launch of ONE's weekly Friday Fights series, multiple athletes in "the art of eight limbs" have become stars and earned main roster contracts as a result of strong performances.

The weekly offering has exposed the exhilarating action of 4-ounce gloved Muay Thai. Names like Johan Ghazali, Thongpoon PK Saenchai, and Seksan Or Kwanmuang have all had their lives changed athletically and financially through the series, too.

Undoubtedly, Muay Thai is in a better place than it was a year ago thanks to ONE Championship. And many of the athletes can now focus on their careers due to the rewards granted by ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

Additionally, the focus on the thrilling sport closed off 2023 in fitting fashion with the first all-striking card on Amazon Prime in ONE Fight Night 17, as well as the gigantic ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon last Friday, 22 December.