ONE Championship has terminated three major executives: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shelher. The dismissals come amid ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations for the Asian promotion. The organization has been experiencing multiple concerning trends including fighter departures, reduced activity for remaining roster members, and the cancellation of major fights and events. These developments suggest ONE Championship may struggle to maintain its position as one of the leading MMA promotions globally.
ONE Championship has let go of three senior executives — vice president Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Shelher — as the Asian promotion continues to navigate serious financial headwinds.
Franklin, best known during his fighting career as "Ace," brings considerable name recognition to any organization he represents. The 51-year-old American compiled a professional MMA record of 29 wins and 7 losses, competing primarily at middleweight. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw was a volume striker who averaged 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute at 44 percent accuracy, while also contributing on the ground with 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His departure, alongside that of Hume and Shelher, removes a significant layer of experienced leadership from the promotion's front office.
Why it matters
- THREE senior executives losing their roles simultaneously points to deep organizational instability rather than routine restructuring.
- Matt Hume's exit is particularly notable given his role overseeing competition, the core product of any MMA promotion.
- The dismissals compound existing problems: fighter departures, reduced activity for roster members, and the cancellation of marquee bouts and events have already raised questions about ONE Championship's trajectory.
- Losing this level of executive experience could further complicate the promotion's efforts to stabilize its roster and schedule.
The cumulative effect of event cancellations, reduced fighter activity, and now a gutted leadership team puts pressure on ONE Championship at a moment when it can least afford instability. Whether the promotion can arrest these trends without the executives who helped shape its competitive identity remains an open question.
