In a recent development reported by Gong Kakuto, K-1 producer Carlos Kikuta was encountered near the location of the ONE 165 press conference. During a spontaneous interview, Kikuta revealed that ONE Championship had approached him with a request to enlist K-1 athletes for their upcoming event.
K-1 has been at odds with Chatri Sityodtong, the head of ONE Championship, as evident from previous confrontations between the two organizations. Despite past disagreements, ONE Championship sought collaboration by requesting Kikuta’s assistance in providing K-1 athletes for their event, ONE 165, scheduled for January 28 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
The history of tension between Sityodtong and Kikuta includes public exchanges where Sityodtong dismissed the idea of co-promotion, emphasizing the perceived size difference between the two promotions. However, with ONE 165 on the horizon, there seems to be a shift in dynamics.
Kikuta disclosed to gonkaku, “A few days ago, I received a request from ONE to have two athletes from K-1 participate in the Ariake tournament. They wanted to announce it today. The list included a potential player, weight, and opponent. When I approached the player, he said he could be on standby.” However, Kikuta mentioned that further discussions are needed before confirming K-1’s participation in the event.
This unexpected development hints at a potential collaboration between K-1 and ONE Championship, bringing a new dimension to the combat sports scene. As fans eagerly await the outcome of these discussions, the prospect of seeing K-1 athletes on the ONE 165 stage adds excitement to the upcoming event in Tokyo.