ONE Championship’s $1 Million Muay Thai Grand Prix: The Biggest Tournament in the Sport’s History Set for 2023
ONE Championship, the world’s leading martial arts organization, has big plans for the muay Thai arm of its combat sports promotion in 2023. The company’s President and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, announced on Wednesday plans for a 16-man grand prix that will pay the winner a whopping $1 million U.S. The tournament will be open weight, meaning all comers are welcome.
In a press conference, Sityodtong said, “I would like to announce the greatest grand prix in the history of the sport of muay Thai. $1 million U.S. dollars. Sixteen of the best strikers in the world will descend this year for $1 million U.S. dollars. Fans all over the world, tell me who you want to see.”
Sityodtong did not reveal additional details such as when the grand prix will launch or how seeding will be determined, but he promises it will be something special and that he intends to embrace the open weight format. “This is an open weight grand prix,” Sityodtong said. “This is going to blow up. You’re going to see big guys against small guys, and it’s going to be huge.”
ONE Championship’s current muay Thai titleholders include Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Joseph Lasiri, and Tawanchai PK.Saenchai. With the openweight format, other fighters from different weight class may also get the chance to participate. Sityodtong urged fans to tell him who they want to see participate in the tournament and some of the mentioned fighters include flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, featherweight kickboxing champion Superbon Singha Mawynn, bantamweight Muay Thai contender Jonathan Haggerty, and former title challenger Liam Harrison.
The event is a huge commitment to the sport of Muay Thai and to Thailand itself in 2023. The promotion is set to stage 52 events inside Bangkok’s world-famous Lumpinee Stadium before the year is out, starting on January 20. Its first two tentpole events of 2023, which will both air on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service in the United States, are also both set to emanate from Bangkok.
In summary, ONE Championship is set to host one of the biggest tournaments in the history of Muay Thai in 2023, with a $1 million prize for the winner and an open weight format. Fans are encouraged to tell the organization who they want to see participate in the tournament, and the event is sure to blow up the sport all over the world.
