Former ONE Championship Featherweight World Champion Marat Gafurov has come forward with a scathing critique of the organization’s management practices and treatment of fighters. Gafurov, who joined ONE in 2014 with an impressive 8-0 record, has shared his tumultuous journey with the promotion, shedding light on broken promises and alleged mistreatment.
Gafurov claims that despite being offered contracts by various organizations, including the UFC, he chose ONE Championship based on promises of better treatment. However, his experience paints a different picture. “ONE made a lower offer than the UFC, but through a friend, they promised to treat me better,” Gafurov stated. “That promise was never fulfilled.”
The fighter’s frustrations grew as he climbed the ranks, eventually capturing the featherweight title. Despite his success, Gafurov alleges that promised contract renegotiations never materialized. “Again and again, I was either ignored or given empty promises,” he said.
In a bold move, Gafurov flew to Singapore to confront ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong directly. While Sityodtong allegedly promised improved conditions, Gafurov claims the offered terms remained largely unchanged and significantly lower than those of newly signed fighters.
Gafurov’s allegations extend beyond financial matters. He asserts that ONE failed to honor contractual agreements regarding fight frequency, often leaving him inactive for extended periods. This inactivity, he believes, negatively impacted his performance and led to his first loss.
“After my first loss, their attitude towards me changed dramatically,” Gafurov revealed. He claims the organization reverted to his original contract terms and continued to keep him inactive or offer last-minute replacement bouts.
These revelations come amidst growing concerns about ONE Championship’s treatment of fighters. Recently, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida publicly expressed frustration over a 13-month period of inactivity. Other athletes, including Diego Pato and Bruno Puci have shared similar stories of extended waits between bouts.
Industry insiders speculate that these issues may be linked to ONE’s reported financial challenges. The organization is rumored to be seeking investment from the Qatar Investment Authority as it faces a financial runway expected to expire by Q3 2024.
Gafurov’s candid account adds to the growing chorus of voices questioning ONE Championship’s practices. As the MMA world grapples with these allegations, the future of the organization and its relationships with fighters remain uncertain.
