ONE Championship has released a new wave of fighters from their MMA and Muay Thai rosters. MMA fighters Gary Tonon (9-2) and Magomed Akaev (10-2) were cut along with three Muay Thai fighters including Stefan Korodi, Amber Kitchen, and Zafer Sayik. The release of Tonon is particularly notable as he competed exclusively in ONE, fought for a title, and is considered one of the world's elite grapplers. Most of the other released fighters had struggled to find success in the promotion. The cuts appear to be part of a roster trimming by ONE Championship.
ONE Championship has parted ways with a group of fighters across its MMA and Muay Thai rosters, with the promotion cutting Gary Tonon, Magomed Akaev, Stefan Korodi, Amber Kitchen, and Zafer Sayik as part of an apparent roster trimming effort.
The most significant departure is that of Tonon, a fighter whose career has been synonymous with ONE Championship. The American submission specialist competed exclusively under the ONE banner throughout his MMA career, posting a 9-2 professional record, and reached the pinnacle of the lightweight division by challenging for the ONE Lightweight World Championship. Long regarded as one of the finest grapplers on the planet, Tonon built his reputation through Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition before transitioning to MMA, and his release marks the end of a significant chapter for the organization.
Akaev also departs with a 10-2 record, though his time in ONE did not yield the same level of prominence. The remaining cuts come from the Muay Thai roster, with Korodi, Kitchen, and Sayik all let go as part of the same wave. The summary of their tenures suggests limited success within the promotion.
Why it matters
- Tonon's exit is the headline move, removing one of the most recognizable grappling names from ONE's lightweight roster
- The cuts suggest ONE Championship is actively thinning its fighter pool, which could signal a broader strategic shift in roster management
- Akaev's release adds further uncertainty to the lightweight and welterweight divisions depending on where he competed
- All five fighters now become available to other promotions, with Tonon in particular likely to attract significant interest given his profile
