ONE Championship has officially discontinued its strawweight division and released the current 115-pound champion, Xiong Jingnan. The decision comes after Jingnan’s limited activity, with only one fight in the last three years, where she secured a unanimous decision victory over Meng Bo at the ONE Friday Fights 100 event approximately one year ago. Despite her impressive record of 19 wins and 2 losses, including numerous knockouts, Jingnan turned 38 earlier this year, which may influence her marketability. The future of ONE Championship appears uncertain, as the organization shifts focus primarily to weekly events at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, while maintaining plans for upcoming events in Tokyo and Denver in 2024.
Why It Matters
The closure of the strawweight division and the release of Xiong Jingnan reflect challenges within ONE Championship’s operational strategy and fighter engagement. Historically, Jingnan has been a prominent figure in women’s MMA, holding the strawweight title since 2018 and contributing to the growth of the sport. The shift to a more limited event schedule may signal financial or strategic difficulties for ONE Championship, especially as it competes in a landscape dominated by other organizations like the UFC. The decision to release a champion could impact the perception of athlete retention and development within the promotion.
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