ONE Championship Makes Waves in Qatar with ONE 166 Event
After nearly ten years, ONE Championship made a triumphant return to the Middle East with a thrilling event in Qatar last weekend.
Anatoly Malykhin Makes MMA World Champion History
The highlight of ONE 166: Qatar was Anatoly Malykhin’s historic feat as the first three-division MMA World Champion. He claimed the middleweight gold by dominating Reinier de Ridder in the main event at the Lusail Sports Arena.
ONE Championship’s Return to the Middle East
Back in August 2014, ONE Championship hosted its inaugural live event in the region with ONE: Reign Of Champions in the Dubai World Trade Center. Fans were treated to incredible performances by legendary fighters such as Shinya Aoki, Ben Askren, Narantungalag Jadambaa, and Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.
High-Stakes Bouts and Diverse Martial Arts
Returning to the Middle East last weekend, ONE Championship ensured a strong comeback with not only Malykhin’s historic win but also two additional World Title bouts and a showcase of talented fighters from the region testing their skills against ONE’s elite roster.
The event featured a variety of martial arts disciplines including MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, and submission grappling, highlighting the full spectrum of combat sports that ONE Championship delivers at the highest level.
Future Growth of Martial Arts in Qatar
ONE Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, expressed his admiration for Qatar and its potential for martial arts growth following ONE 166: Qatar. He emphasized the country’s importance to ONE Championship’s ecosystem and predicted a bright future for martial arts in the region.
According to Sityodtong, Qatar is just beginning its journey into mainstream martial arts, presenting significant opportunities for growth. He believes that ONE Championship will play a crucial role in the martial arts revolution in Qatar, with the recent event serving as just the beginning of a promising partnership.