ONE Championship has released several MMA fighters and Muay Thai competitors from its roster. Notable cuts include MMA fighters Garry Tonon (9-2) and Magomed Akaev (10-2), along with three Muay Thai fighters. Tonon's release is particularly surprising as he competed exclusively in ONE, has multiple wins, fought for a title, and is one of the world's most accomplished grapplers. The other released fighters include Stefan Korodi, Amber Kitchen, and Zafer Sayik, who had struggled to find success in the promotion. The wave of cuts appears to be part of roster management by the Asian organization.
ONE Championship has parted ways with a wave of fighters across both its MMA and Muay Thai rosters, with the most eyebrow-raising departure being that of submission specialist Garry Tonon.
Tonon spent his entire professional MMA career inside the ONE Circle, building a 9-2 record exclusively with the promotion. A world-class grappler widely regarded as one of the most accomplished submission artists in combat sports, he challenged for a ONE Championship title during his tenure and earned multiple finishes along the way. His release comes as a genuine surprise given his profile and his loyalty to the organization as a ONE-only fighter.
Also cut from the MMA roster is Magomed Akaev, who leaves with a 10-2 professional record. Despite a winning record, Akaev was unable to carve out a prominent position within the promotion and now finds himself among the released.
On the Muay Thai side, Stefan Korodi, Amber Kitchen, and Zafer Sayik have also been let go. The three striking competitors had struggled to gain traction in ONE's competitive kickboxing and Muay Thai divisions, making their departures a more straightforward piece of roster trimming.
Why it matters
- Tonon's release opens the door for other promotions to sign one of MMA's most recognizable grappling names for the first time in his career.
- Akaev's 10-2 record may attract interest from rival organizations looking for proven talent with winning credentials.
- The simultaneous cuts across MMA and Muay Thai signal a deliberate roster management effort by ONE Championship rather than isolated decisions.
- With Tonon no longer under contract, his next move will be one of the more closely watched free-agent situations in the sport.
