ONE Championship to have Philippine league

Chatri Sityodtong, One Championship’s top honcho, vowed to make his milestone of a show in Tokyo, Japan, earlier this October, look like “a speck” compared to his plans for the future.

And Filipinos will again play a central part in that.

“Next year, or maybe later this year, we’re going to launch One Heroes Series Philippines,” he told the Inquirer in an exclusive interview recently.

“It’s basically our local league. It’s the Philippine Basketball Association’s equivalent of One,” he added.

Sityodtong, a former Wall Street trader who also made a stop at the famed Silicon Valley, founded the mixed martial arts promotion eight years ago in Singapore.

Its inaugural show included many-time national athlete and Team Lakay skipper Eduard Folayang.

Just recently, One has made its reach as far as the United States following multiple marquee signings that included Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez and Miesha Tate.

Asked about the details of his next endeavor with the Filipino audience, Sityodtong said the promotion is still threshing out details but went on to hint on its format.

“It’s going to be a local league in search of the next Filipino superstar. It’s going to be Filipino versus Filipino,” he said.

There are currently 26 Filipinos signed with One.

Last year, the Philippines had five champions across its 10 weight classes: Brandon Vera (heavyweight), Folayang (Lightweight), Kevin Belingon (bantamweight), Geje Eustaquio (flyweight) and Joshua Pacio (strawweight).

“I want to continue investing in the Filipino market. I believe in the Filipino fans. The place has been incredible to us,” Sityodtong said.

“I’ve always been so grateful to the Philippines for embracing One,” he added. “I see a huge future with the country.”