ONE Championship has dismissed three senior executives from its leadership team: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Scholler. The firings come as the promotion faces ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations. The report suggests ONE Championship's position as a leading global MMA promotion is in jeopardy, with fighters leaving, remaining fighters inactive, key staff being let go, and major fights and events being cancelled. The developments point to serious operational challenges facing the Asian promotion.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior members of its leadership team, according to a report published on April 16, 2026, signaling deepening financial and operational turmoil at the Singapore-based promotion.
The three departures include vice president Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Scholler. The exits come amid a broader crisis that has reportedly seen fighters leave the roster, remaining athletes sit idle, and major events cancelled.
Franklin, 51, brought considerable credibility to his executive role. The American is a former UFC middleweight champion who compiled a professional MMA record of 29-7-0 across a lengthy career. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw from the United States was a prolific striker, averaging 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute with 44 percent accuracy while also contributing on the ground with 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes. His presence in ONE Championship's front office was widely seen as a bridge between the promotion's ambitions and the established MMA community.
Hume, a respected figure in fighter development and matchmaking, served as senior vice president of competition, while Scholler occupied the chief operating officer role responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization.
Why it matters
- The simultaneous loss of three senior executives removes experienced leadership at a critical moment for the promotion.
- Fighter inactivity and event cancellations suggest the organization's competitive calendar is already being disrupted.
- ONE Championship's standing as a top global MMA promotion faces genuine uncertainty if the reported financial difficulties persist.
- The departures may accelerate further talent and staff exits, compounding the challenges facing the Asian market's highest-profile MMA brand.
