OneFC 's Rise to the top, from Day 1

A Phoenix Rising From the Ashes

DREAM and Sengoku were in the midst of their doors being shut on them. Sengoku's main sponsor, Don Quijote pulled the plug and went for Pancrase. DREAM is still looking for the big magical sponsor to have their next show. OneFC...they have more sponsors than all JMMA organizations combined.

Just as the biggest organizations in Japan were failing, Victor Cui, the man that was running Martial Combat, announced he would up the ante. Martial Combat, you see, was his test ground. Held with minimal patrons and using minimal production, Martial Combat was aired throughout Asia on ESPN STAR, Victor's former home. In a brilliant move, leveraging old connections to make something big happen like this, Cui wound down MC and began the promotion they call OneFC.

A line up of champions from throughout Asia was presented for the first time to the fans and media throughout Singapore and parts of Asia. After all, this was just the beginning. It was mid-July 2011. The inaugural show was set to take place in September. Each week, a new blurb of news would come out, increasing the excitement more and more for the "Champion vs Champion" show.

The biggest news to come out of the releases was not a certain match up per say, or anything that is typical for a promotion. The news that the organization would combine Unified Rules with the rules used in Pride, grabbed the internet and world alike and created a fan base, just like that.

Promoting the Event

The event got a huge amount of promotion from Mr. Cui. Hitting the road hard, Cui did an excellent job using his media savvy and skill to get this event out there. Sponsors included Energizer, Cathay, Holiday Inn, and Fairtex to name a few. It was clear these guys were for real. The event was to be broadcast on MediaCorp domestically. Throughout the world, OneFC reached a deal with Sherdog to bring the event to computers everywhere. A wise move, and likely the right move for a inaugural event.

Posters and flyers were distributed throughout the country and region. The fan base was growing in size very day and to Mr. Cui's delight. The weigh-in's were the first sign of how well this event was actually promoted as a fan base had indeed emerged and shown their loyalty (it was touchy weather that day).

Using YouTube and other media platforms, Cui gave answers to every individual asking, always sure to make himself available at any cost. Embracing the media, the blogosphere, and the major news publications, Cui showed he knew fine and well what he was doing here. If you spoke to Cui, he put off a vibe that you'd known him for several years. A friendly man that did business not in the way we are used to in the USA, but the real, authentic, inclusive Asian way of business.

Leading into the Event

When attending a fighter hotel you can get a vibe for an event. The Holiday Inn had a vibe. It had a vibe of a huge MMA event, only if fans knew what to expect and what exactly they had in their back yard! Attending many UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and other large shows, the feeling of being in the lobby of the fighter hotel can paint the mood for the event. With OneFC, all the fighters were readily accessible in the lobby, either catching a taxi or returning, training, and many other things. Mr. Cui was there as well, always shaking hands and making the very individuals that were making the event possible, feel welcome. Even after the event, the lead indicator of the vibe of an event, the hotel lobby, had a great aura to it.

The morning of the event, it was broken that the rule set would require a referee to indicate that it was permissible to use the PrideFC shots to the head of a grounded opponent. While this news was just a slight curveball, no one seemed to pay matter to it. The event was just hours off. The busses were carrying fighters to the stadium. It was that time.

Conclusion

OneFC has what it takes to make this happen. There are lingering questions regarding the amount of financing they have but based on the number of sponsors they have been able to acquire, the prospects look promising. No other promotion has ever been brought to this many homes in network tv format. Hundreds of different brands, gyms, and the like will be part of the OneFC branded network as time passes on.

They have made it clear - this is a team effort. And that is their key to success, that is the Asian way of doing business. OneFC will succeed, it's just a matter of which path it choses to take.

We will look into the very first event next time and never before heard comments about the first event from fighters, employees, and the like.

http://www.mma-japan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1409:onefc-s-rise-to-the-top-from-day-1&catid=50:onefc&Itemid=94

too bad he doesnt use a ring.

OneFC is going places, this is just a start.

monaroCountry wrote:OneFC is going places, this is just a start.

I agree wit dat Monaro.....I love thier fights!...lottsa action and finishes!

OneFC and SFL need to co-promote

ONE FC and the ONE Asia Network are great for the sport. I hope they do well as I think they will. They have a really good vision for the sport.

I do wish they would use a ring and just allow the full rules without the open attack rule. Aside from that though, I have been impressed with the fights they have put on and the show in general as well.

One Fc will become the biggest MMA org in the world

AudaxPowder wrote:OneFC and SFL need to co-promote

At first I thought SFL was a joke but it´s actually very entertaining. When both promotions have build a legit roster co-promotion would be great.

I like how One is not only utilizing champions, current and past, but making moves to build their own stars.

I'd like to see One become the proving ground for worldwide champions. It'll be the closest thing to co-promotion we'll get at this day in age. Since DREAM is on its last legs, hopefully we'll get to see Takaya and Bibi make some appearances.

The future is also looking bright with fighters such as Folayang, Ng, and Moreira.