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 Sehler. The dismissals come amid ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations for the promotion. The post suggests these developments indicate ONE Championship may not continue functioning as a leading global MMA promotion for much longer. The organization has been experiencing fighter departures, reduced activity among remaining fighters, cancelled major fights and events, alongside these executive layoffs.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives, a development that adds to mounting concerns about the long-term stability of the Singapore-based promotion.
Rich Franklin, the former UFC middleweight champion who had served as the organization's vice president, is among those let go. Franklin, 51, compiled a professional record of 29-7-0 during his fighting career and became one of the sport's most recognizable names before transitioning into a front-office role. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw from the United States was a high-volume striker who averaged 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute with 44 percent accuracy over the course of his career.
Also dismissed were Matt Hume, senior vice president of competition, and John Sehler, who held the title of chief operating officer. The departures strip ONE Championship of significant organizational experience at a critical moment for the promotion.
Why it matters
- The executive layoffs follow a pattern of broader instability, including fighter departures, reduced athlete activity, and cancelled events and marquee bouts.
- Losing senior leadership in operations and competition management simultaneously raises questions about ONE Championship's ability to maintain its roster and event schedule.
- Franklin's exit removes a figure with deep credibility inside the fighter community, potentially complicating future talent recruitment and retention.
- The cumulative weight of these developments has prompted questions about whether ONE Championship can sustain its position as a major global MMA promotion.
The timing of the dismissals, occurring alongside event cancellations and a thinning competitive calendar, suggests the organization is navigating financial pressures that extend well beyond routine restructuring.
