ONE Championship has terminated three senior executives from their leadership team: vice president and former UFC fighter Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Schaeler. The firings come as the promotion continues to face significant financial problems and event cancellations. The post suggests that ONE Championship's ability to continue functioning as a leading global MMA promotion is in serious doubt. Fighters are leaving the organization, those who remain are fighting infrequently, key staff are being let go, and major fights and events are being cancelled.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives as the promotion's financial difficulties continue to mount, with the departures raising serious questions about the organization's long-term viability.
Rich Franklin, the promotion's vice president and a former UFC middleweight champion, is among those let go. Franklin, 51, compiled a professional record of 29-7-0 during his fighting career, earning the nickname "Ace" while competing as a southpaw out of the United States. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter veteran carried a 76-inch reach and averaged 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute during his career, with a 44 percent striking accuracy. He had been serving in a senior leadership role at ONE Championship following his retirement from competition.
Also terminated were Matt Hume, senior vice president of competition, and chief operating officer John Schaeler. Hume has long been a respected figure in the sport as both a trainer and matchmaker, while Schaeler oversaw the organization's day-to-day operations.
Why it matters
- The loss of three senior executives signals deep organizational instability at one of MMA's largest promotions outside the UFC.
- Fighters are reportedly leaving the roster, and those who remain are competing infrequently, compounding concerns about the promotion's competitive calendar.
- Major events and high-profile bouts have already been cancelled, leaving the promotion's near-term schedule uncertain.
- The cumulative effect — executive departures, fighter attrition, and event cancellations — puts ONE Championship's status as a premier global MMA organization in serious doubt.
