ONE Championship has dismissed three senior executives from its leadership team: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competitions Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Schieler. The firings come as the promotion faces ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations. The report suggests ONE Championship's viability as a leading global MMA promotion may be in question based on current trends. The organization has been experiencing fighter departures, reduced activity for remaining athletes, key personnel exits, and cancellations of major fights and events.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior members of its leadership team, a move that arrives against a backdrop of mounting financial pressure on the Singapore-based promotion.
Rich Franklin, the former UFC middleweight champion who had served as vice president, is among those let go. Franklin, 51, compiled a professional MMA record of 29-7-0 during his fighting career, becoming one of the sport's most recognizable names in the mid-2000s. The American, who stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, was known for an active striking output of 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. He had transitioned into an executive role with ONE Championship after retiring from competition.
Also dismissed are Matt Hume, who held the position of senior vice president of competitions, and chief operating officer John Schieler. Hume is a well-regarded figure in Asian MMA circles and had played a significant role in shaping ONE's competitive roster and matchmaking over the years.
Why it matters
- The simultaneous removal of three senior executives signals deep organizational instability at one of MMA's largest promotions outside the UFC.
- ONE Championship has already been dealing with fighter departures, reduced scheduling, and the cancellation of high-profile bouts and events.
- The loss of experienced competition and operations leadership raises immediate questions about matchmaking continuity and event delivery going forward.
- The promotion's long-term viability as a top global MMA organization is now openly being questioned based on the trajectory of recent developments.
The triple dismissal compounds concerns that have been building around ONE Championship for some time, with athletes seeing reduced activity and major events failing to materialize as planned. Whether the organization can stabilize its leadership structure and financial footing remains the central question hanging over the promotion.
