Mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the fastest growing sports in the entire world. Thanks to visionaries like ONE Championship Chairman Chatri Sityodtong, the MMA industry is experiencing a tremendous boost in global viewership and influence over the past few years, particularly in the Asian region where Sityodtong and the promotion is focused on developing.
Sityodtong is set to share his experiences at the Forbes Global CEO Conference on November 29 in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the 16th iteration of the annual event which brings together over 400 global CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, up-and-comers, capitalists and thought leaders.
2016 is particularly noteworthy because, it will be the first year the conference is attended by an individual representing the sport of MMA.
Just a few years ago, MMA in Asia was a relatively niche sport with a strong following. There have always been local martial arts communities generating interest in the sport but nothing that really took it to the next level, until ONE Championship came along.
Because of Sityodtong’s work with ONE, MMA in Asia is no longer running paces behind the pack -- it’s revolutionizing sports entertainment in the region with fresh marketing initiatives and a robust digital platform.
In just a short span of five years since ONE was established in 2011, the company has become the largest sports media property in Asian history with an audience reach of one billion homes in over 118 countries worldwide through various international media broadcasts.
It is widely recognized as one of the largest MMA promotions in the world and its popularity has led to a handful of key partnerships with brands like Disney, Marvel, G-Shock, Under Armour, and UMG.
The Forbes Global CEO Conference is an invite-only, exclusive two-day event where CEOs from all over the world and from various global brands and international organizations are brought in to share their experiences in the past year, including the toughest obstacles and how they overcame them.
Sityodtong will be joined by leaders in different fields such as AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Richard Solomons, and his excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, among others.
MMA’s inclusion in this round of the conference is a milestone for the sport and is a testament to its rapid success over the past few years.
Sityodtong is scheduled to touch on various subjects, including primarily “Building Brand Power” and how he was able to take a promising upstart and turn it into a leading global brand. Alongside bigwigs from organizations like Cirque du Soleil, IHG and the Ayala Corporation, Sityodtong will divulge his knowledge and experience in developing ONE Championship over the past few years.
ONE’s strategy in Asia is to build local, homegrown Asian martial arts heroes that resonates with local audiences. The result has been phenomenal as far as public reception goes, and has opened the company up to many financial partnership opportunities and sponsorships.