ONE Championship has dismissed 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 Scheler. These layoffs come as the organization faces ongoing financial difficulties and event cancellations. The post suggests that ONE Championship's ability to continue functioning as one of the leading global MMA promotions is increasingly uncertain. The organization is experiencing multiple problems including fighter departures, inactivity among remaining roster members, key staff terminations, and the cancellation of major fights and events. The author warns that ONE's viability as a major promotion may be limited going forward.
ONE Championship has parted ways with three senior executives as the organization grapples with a deepening financial crisis, according to reports published on April 16, 2026.
Vice president Rich Franklin, senior vice president of competition Matt Hume, and chief operating officer John Scheler have all been dismissed from their roles. The departures represent a significant blow to the promotion's leadership structure at an already turbulent time.
Franklin, 51, is perhaps the most recognizable name among those let go. The American fighter-turned-executive compiled a professional MMA record of 29-7-0 during his career, competing at six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. Known by his nickname "Ace," the southpaw from the United States became a prominent ambassador and executive figure for ONE Championship after his fighting days.
Why it matters
- The simultaneous loss of three senior executives weakens ONE Championship's operational and competitive infrastructure at a critical moment.
- The departures compound existing problems: fighter departures, roster inactivity, and the cancellation of major bouts and events have all been reported alongside these layoffs.
- ONE Championship's standing as one of the premier global MMA promotions is increasingly in question, with observers warning that the organization's viability as a major player in the sport may be limited if current trends continue.
The organization now faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Fighter attrition, stalled events, and the hollowing out of its executive team paint a challenging picture for a promotion that had positioned itself as a genuine rival to the UFC on the international stage. Whether ONE Championship can stabilize its operations without the experience and institutional knowledge represented by Franklin, Hume, and Scheler remains an open question.
