Singapore’s ONE Championship (ONE) is a mixed martial arts, kickboxing, submission grappling, and Muay Thai promotion that has been going head-to-head with the UFC for quite some time.
At the surface level, comparing ONE and the UFC feels straightforward. Both promotions contain MMA, a cage to fight inside, similar weight classes, and elite talent. However, as the combat sports scene has shifted, the comparison has become extremely outdated.
While the UFC has built an image for being the world’s premier MMA organization, ONE has systematically moved in a different direction. With that said, here’s a breakdown of how ONE Championship and the UFC differ, and why those differences matter.
Differences between ONE FC and UFC
ONE doesn’t just broadcast MMA
A key element of ONE’s appeal is its multi-sport broadcast. Any ONE Fight Night event could contain kickboxing fights, Muay Thai fights, MMA fights, or submission grappling matches. Arguably, their biggest star, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, is a Muay Thai fighter, and their former grappling ace, Mike Musumeci, is the inaugural UFC BJJ bantamweight champion.
UFC only broadcasts MMA. The average ONE Fight Night card vs. an average UFC Fight Night card could look something like this:
| ONE Fight Night | UFC Fight Night |
|---|---|
| Kickboxing World Title Fight | UFC world title fight |
| MMA World Title Fight | MMA |
| Muay Thai World Title Fight | MMA |
| Kickboxing | MMA |
| MMA | MMA |
| Kickboxing | MMA |
| Kickboxing | MMA |
| MMA | MMA |
| MMA | MMA |
| MMA | MMA |
| Muay Thai | MMA |
Friday Fights & Dana White’s Contender Series
Since 2023, ONE has been broadcasting its Friday Fights series every Friday morning. It’s primarily a Muay Thai show, with some MMA sprinkled in. Competitors fight for the chance of winning a ONE contract and the opportunity to star on a ONE Fight Night card.
This is similar to Dana White’s Contender Series, where regional-level talent gets an opportunity to earn a larger UFC contract on a smaller stage.
ONE’s Friday Fights are broadcast every week on the Sky Sports YouTube Channel.
What are the rules in ONE Championship?
MMA
ONE uses the Global Martial Arts Ruleset, rather than the Unified Rules used by the UFC. The key difference between these rule sets is that ONE MMA fights allow knees to the head of downed opponents. Apart from this, the rules are practically identical.
Previously, ONE did allow soccer kicks, but they have since been scrapped as part of ONE’s worldwide expansion plan.
Kickboxing
ONE uses K-1 rules in their kickboxing fights. Bouts are 3×3-minute rounds, with title fights containing five rounds. Rounds are scored using a ten-point must system, just like boxing and MMA. Fighters competing at or below 65.5 kg wear 8-oz gloves; fighters above wear 10-oz gloves.
Muay Thai
ONE Muay Thai uses 3×3-minute rounds, with five rounds in title fights. They are also scored with a ten-point must system. Elbows, clinch striking, sweeps, and throws are allowed, although fighters are usually separated much faster than traditional Muay Thai. Fighters use open-fingered 4-oz gloves—essentially MMA gloves—rather than boxing gloves.
Submission Grappling
ONE’s grapplers can either win by submission or decision. Competitions are scored over the course of one 10-minute round. Winners are determined on the “number of real submission attempts”. Yellow cards can also be issued for stalling.
ONE Championship vs. UFC MMA Weight Divisions
ONE has one extra weight division than the UFC, adding the women’s atomweight division. Overall, ONE has ten weight divisions compared to UFC’s nine. ONE’s weight divisions are also heavier overall than the UFC’s.
UFC’s weight classes
| Weight Class | Lower Limit (LBS) | Upper Limit (LBS) | Gender |
| Strawweight | No minimum | 115lbs | Female |
| Flyweight | 115lbs | 125lbs | Male/Female |
| Bantamweight | 125lbs | 135lbs | Male |
| Featherweight | 135lbs | 145lbs | Male |
| Lightweight | 145lbs | 155lbs | Male |
| Welterweight | 155lbs | 170lbs | Male |
| Middleweight | 170lbs | 185lbs | Male |
| Light Heavyweight | 185lbs | 205lbs | Male |
| Heavyweight | 205lbs | 265lbs | Male |
ONE Championship MMA Weight Divisions
| Weight Class | Lower Limit (LBS) | Upper Limit (LBS) | Gender |
| Atomweight | 105lbs | 115lbs | Female |
| Strawweight | 115lbs | 125lbs | Male/Female |
| Flyweight | 125lbs | 135lbs | Male |
| Bantamweight | 135lbs | 145lbs | Male |
| Featherweight | 145lbs | 155lbs | Male |
| Lightweight | 155lbs | 170lbs | Male |
| Welterweight | 170lbs | 185lbs | Male |
| Middleweight | 185lbs | 205lbs | Male |
| Light Heavyweight | 205lbs | 225lbs | Male |
| Heavyweight | 225lbs | 265lbs | Male |
ONE vs. UFC salaries
Just like the UFC, ONE’s salaries are not disclosed. However, we have gained insight into how ONE Championship’s fighter contracts work.
ONE hands out bonuses to its fighters, just like UFC. Fighters need to hit bonus criteria to raise their chances:
- Thrilling the fans with exciting action
- Demonstrating an incredible warrior spirit
- Exhibiting amazing skill
- Delivering a phenomenal finish
“For every event, the bar will be very, very high. If a few fighters impress me, then I will hand out the bonus to a few fighters. If no one impresses me, then no one will get it. Extraordinary performance deserves extraordinary rewards. Ordinary performances deserve ordinary rewards.” – Victor Cui – CEO of International at ONE
Should you watch ONE Championship?
ONE does a great job of being adjacent to the UFC rather than directly competing in MMA. They also emphasize production value and spectacle, and the skill demonstrated in their kickboxing and Muay Thai contests is awe-inspiring. Without a doubt, ONE is worth a watch.
ONE vs. UFC: How to watch?
ONE’s free programming is scheduled on the Sky Sports YouTube channel. Their paid programming takes place on Amazon Prime and the ONE FC website. UFC is found on UFC Fight Pass, TNT Sports for the UK, and Paramount+ for American audiences.
