Tag: ONE FC

UFC, ONE agree to Demetrious Johnson-Ben Askren trade

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The UFC and ONE Fighting Championship’s history-making trade has officially been agreed to.

ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported today that the UFC has agreed to release Demetrious Johnson from his contract to allow him to sign with ONE Championship. ONE has also agreed to release Ben Askren in order for him to sign with the UFC.

Helwani noted that both fighters are expected to sign deals with their new promotions in the near future.

Johnson and Askren have both acknowledged the news on their Twitter accounts.

ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong wrote: “Please join me in welcoming the #1 pound-for-pound king, @MightyMouse, to ONE Championship! His extraordinary achievements speak for themselves, but I am most impressed by his character, his values, and his life story. #GOAT Thank you to @MightyMouse, @Benaskren, @ONEChampionship, @UFC, and @malkikawa for making the 1st trade in mixed martial arts history possible. #gratitude”

Johnson is 27-3 with one draw in his career, while Askren is 18-0 with one no contest and is a former welterweight champion for ONE and Bellator. After breaking the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses, Johnson lost the flyweight championship to Henry Cejudo at UFC 227 in August. 

Helwani reported that “a plan was hatched” for Johnson to leave the UFC after his loss to Cejudo, but the UFC needed incentive to release him. Johnson’s management team pitched the idea of the trade, and all of the involved parties ended up agreeing to it. Johnson’s coach Matt Hume is also ONE’s vice president of operations.

MMA fighter dies after weight-cutting issues

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

In a bit of sad news in an MMA heavy weekend, a 21-year-old fighter from China passed away Friday in the Philippines due to weight cutting issues.

Yang Jian Bing, a flyweight who was scheduled to compete for ONE FC, was announced by the promotion as having passed away at 12:06 PM Friday, just hours before a scheduled show at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines.

Bing (5-1) was scheduled to face Geje Eustaquiao (6-4). He had collapsed while cutting weight on Thursday morning and was rushed to San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay. He never recovered and passed away due to cardiopulmonary failure.

On a Facebook announcement about the death, Eustaquiao said that Bing had been rushed to the hospital due to dehydration and possible heat stroke. The promotion announced his death at the start of today’s event and said the cause was not yet determined, but sent out a release later with a cause of death.

“There is nothing more profoundly tragic and sad than when a member of the ONE Championship family, current or past, passed away.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Yang Jian Bing.  We will work closely with the famly and offer all the support they need in any way we can during this difficult time.”