If the Chatri Sityodtong-Dana White clash does push through, all the ONE Chairman and Chief Executive Offer needs are directions to the monumental showdown’s venue.
ONE Championship teased on Instagram a prospective clash between the CEO of ONE and the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The post featured a short clip of Sityodtong training at Evolve MMA with the caption, “Who wants to see Chatri vs. Dana?”
Sityodtong responded, “send me location,” alongside a laughing emoji. That reply had mixed martial arts fans and fighters giving their take on who they think would win between the two executives.
The choice is easy because martial arts is a way of life for ONE’s head honcho, and it isn’t just lip service.
A lifelong practitioner, Sityodtong has 35 years of Muay Thai experience and started his journey with the late Master Yodtong Senanan at the esteemed Sityodtong Gym in Pattaya, Thailand.
He’s also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under multi-time BJJ world champion Renzo Gracie.
That’s why it’s no surprise that the fighters who commented took Chatri as the victor in this battle of MMA’s most influential figures.
“Uncle @yodchatri would beat the breaks off Dana,” Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks said.
“Not even a competition,” Black Belt Magazine Hall-of-Famer and Karate World Champion Colbey Northcutt shared.
The beef between the two started when White doubted that the hybrid rules superfight between Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon would work.
Sityodtong quickly brushed off the outspoken UFC President’s comments by doubting his knowledge of martial arts and questioning his appreciation for combat sports.
Catch ONE: HEAVY HITTERS live on One Sports+ beginning with the lead card at 6 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT) on Friday, January 14.
The main card will begin on ONE Sports and ONE Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. PHT on Friday.
It will air simultaneously on ONE’s YouTube channel and the ONE Super App.