Early on, ONE Championship’s model was similar to most mixed martial arts organizations. Storylines “about good, bad, arrogant, trash-talking fighters” were developed to create intrigue, and were thought to be very important, according to CEO Victor Cui. But in Asia, ONE Championship’s home, that model didn’t work.
“The only sort of model that I could reference of what combat sports could be was what we had here in North America,” Cui told MMAFighting.com.
ONE Championship fans appreciate the beauty of martial arts over the blood and guts aspect of the sport, Cui said.
“A big part of what drives the spirit of ONE Championship is really just the belief that martial arts makes the world a better place,” Cui said.