ONE Championship has dismissed three key executives from its leadership team: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shaeler. The firings come amid ongoing financial problems and event cancellations for the promotion. The report suggests ONE Championship's future as a leading global MMA promotion may be limited, citing departing fighters, inactive rosters, key personnel losses, and canceled major fights and events.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives — vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shaeler — in a sweeping round of dismissals that points to deepening instability at the Singapore-based promotion.
Franklin, 51, is the most recognizable name among those let go. The American fighter-turned-executive compiled a professional record of 29-7-0 during his fighting career, spending significant time in the middleweight division and earning his "Ace" nickname through a high-output striking style that averaged 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute at 44 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw also averaged 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes, demonstrating well-rounded credentials that made him a credible front-office presence after his retirement.
Why it matters
- The simultaneous removal of a VP, senior VP of competitions, and COO strips ONE Championship of institutional knowledge across multiple critical departments.
- Franklin's exit is particularly symbolic given his role bridging the organization's fighter relations and competitive operations.
- Reports of canceled events, departing fighters, and inactive rosters suggest the leadership losses compound existing structural problems rather than standing alone.
- The promotion's long-term viability as a top-tier global MMA organization is now under serious question, according to the report.
The firings arrive against a backdrop of reported financial difficulties that have already led to event cancellations and roster uncertainty. Losing Hume, one of the most respected competition minds in Asian MMA, alongside a COO in Shaeler and a high-profile face in Franklin, removes three pillars from ONE's operational structure at a moment when stability is most needed. The cumulative picture painted by this report — personnel departures, fighter attrition, and scrapped major bouts — signals a promotion under significant strain.
