ONE Championship has dismissed three key executives: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Schieler. The firings come amid continuing financial difficulties and event cancellations for the promotion. The post suggests ONE Championship's viability as a leading MMA promotion is in question, noting that fighters are leaving, those who remain are rarely competing, key personnel are being let go, and major fights and events are being canceled. The author expresses concern about the promotion's future trajectory.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives as the Asia-based promotion continues to navigate serious financial headwinds, with the departures raising fresh questions about its long-term stability.
Rich Franklin, the promotion's vice president, is among those let go. Franklin, 51, is a former UFC middleweight champion who compiled a professional record of 29-7-0 during his fighting career. The American, who stood six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and was known for an active striking output of 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute, had transitioned into a prominent front-office role at ONE Championship after retiring from competition.
Also dismissed were Matt Hume, senior vice president of competitions, and John Schieler, the promotion's chief operating officer. The simultaneous removal of three high-ranking officials points to significant organizational disruption at the top of the company.
Why it matters
- The exits of a VP, SVP of competitions, and COO simultaneously represent a substantial loss of institutional knowledge and leadership.
- ONE Championship has already been dealing with event cancellations and a thinning fighter roster, and the executive departures deepen concerns about operational continuity.
- Fighters reportedly leaving the promotion and reduced activity among those who remain compound the pressure on ONE's standing as a top global MMA organization.
The broader picture painted by these developments is one of a promotion under considerable strain. Events have been canceled, key personnel are departing, and fighters are either leaving or competing infrequently. Together, these factors have prompted serious scrutiny over whether ONE Championship can maintain its position among the world's premier mixed martial arts organizations.
