ONE Championship has terminated three senior executives: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Sheler. The dismissals come as the promotion faces ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations. The report suggests ONE Championship's position as a leading global MMA organization is in jeopardy. Fighters have been departing the promotion, those remaining are inactive, and major fights and events continue to be cancelled. The post notes concern for Russian fighter Anatoly Malykhin's future with the struggling organization.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives as the promotion navigates what appear to be deepening financial difficulties, according to reports published on April 16, 2026.
The departures include vice president Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Sheler. The simultaneous removal of three high-profile figures from the organization's leadership structure signals significant internal turbulence at what was once considered one of the premier MMA promotions in the world.
Franklin, 51, brings considerable credibility to any front-office role. The American, who stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, compiled a 29-7-0 professional record during his fighting career, earning the nickname "Ace" while competing as a southpaw out of Team Extreme. His stint as a UFC middleweight standout made him a recognizable face for ONE Championship to attach to its executive ranks.
Why it matters
- The loss of three senior executives simultaneously removes significant operational and competitive experience from ONE Championship's leadership
- Ongoing fighter departures and event cancellations suggest the promotion's structural problems extend beyond personnel issues
- Russian heavyweight champion Anatoly Malykhin's future with the organization has been flagged as a specific concern, raising questions about roster stability at the top of the card
- ONE Championship's standing as a leading global MMA organization is described as being in jeopardy if the current trajectory continues
The broader picture painted by these dismissals is one of an organization struggling to maintain momentum. Fighters have been leaving, those who remain have been kept largely inactive, and scheduled events have continued to fall through. Whether the executive shake-up represents a cost-cutting measure, a structural reorganization, or something more consequential for the promotion's long-term viability remains unclear.
