ONE Championship has dismissed three senior executives from its team: Vice President and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, Senior Vice President of Competition Matt Hume, and Chief Operating Officer John Schieler. The firings come amid ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations for the Asian promotion. The organization has been experiencing multiple problems including fighter departures, reduced fight activity among remaining roster members, and cancelled major fights and events. These leadership changes raise further concerns about ONE Championship's future as a leading global MMA promotion.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives, the organization confirmed, as the Asian MMA promotion continues to navigate a deepening period of financial and operational instability.
The departures include Vice President Rich Franklin, Senior Vice President of Competition Matt Hume, and Chief Operating Officer John Schieler. The cuts represent a significant reshaping of the promotion's leadership structure at a time when the company has already been dealing with event cancellations, fighter departures, and reduced activity across its roster.
Franklin, 51, is perhaps the most recognizable name among the three. The American fought out of Team Extreme and compiled a professional record of 29-7-0 during a career that made him one of the sport's most prominent middleweights. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw was known for his active striking, averaging 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy across his career. He later transitioned into an executive role with ONE Championship, serving as a key ambassador and front-facing figure for the promotion in Western markets.
Why it matters
- The loss of three senior executives simultaneously leaves a significant leadership void at an already fragile moment for the organization.
- Franklin's departure removes one of ONE Championship's most recognizable connections to a North American audience.
- Ongoing event cancellations and fighter exits compound the organizational uncertainty created by these firings.
- The moves raise serious questions about ONE Championship's ability to maintain its position among the world's top MMA promotions.
The dismissals follow a broader pattern of instability that has seen the Singapore-based promotion scale back its ambitions considerably from its peak years, when it positioned itself as a direct rival to the UFC on the global stage.
