ONE Championship has released five fighters: MMA fighters Gary Tonon (9-2) and Magomed Akaev (10-2), along with Thai boxing competitors Stefan Korodi (2-3-0), Amber Kitchen (0-2-0), and Zafer Sayik (0-3-0). While the releases of the kickboxers are understandable given their poor records and limited media presence, Tonon's departure is surprising. The American grappler fought his entire MMA career in ONE Championship, amassed a strong winning record, challenged for a title, and is considered one of the world's best and most decorated grapplers. The post notes that the releases make sense for all fighters except Tonon, whose dismissal appears particularly puzzling given his credentials and competitive record in the organization.
ONE Championship has parted ways with five fighters across its MMA and Muay Thai rosters, the promotion confirmed, with the cuts spanning a wide range of profiles and competitive histories.
The most notable departure is Gary Tonon, an American submission grappling specialist who built his entire professional MMA career inside the ONE Championship cage. Tonon compiled a 9-2 record with the promotion, challenged for a world title, and is widely regarded as one of the most decorated grapplers of his generation. His release stands out precisely because of that history — few fighters are as closely associated with a single organization as Tonon is with ONE, making the decision to part ways a genuinely surprising one.
Also released on the MMA side is Magomed Akaev, who leaves with a 10-2 professional record. Akaev's departure draws less attention than Tonon's, though a winning record at that level is not a trivial credential to cut loose.
The three Muay Thai fighters let go — Stefan Korodi (2-3), Amber Kitchen (0-2), and Zafer Sayik (0-3) — each carry losing records in ONE competition, and their releases follow a more conventional roster-management logic. None of the three established a significant competitive footprint or broader media presence during their time with the promotion.
Why it matters
- Tonon's exit leaves ONE's lightweight and grappling-focused divisions without one of their most recognizable technical performers
- The release of three Muay Thai fighters with combined losing records suggests ONE is trimming underperforming talent ahead of potential roster restructuring
- Akaev's dismissal despite a winning overall record raises quiet questions about ONE's internal evaluation criteria beyond win-loss numbers
- Tonon's future landing spot, wherever that may be, will draw immediate attention given his credentials
