Co-founder and President of ONE Championship Hua Fung Teh speaks to The Peninsula.
Doha, Qatar: ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organisation, will stage ONE 171: Qatar - one of 2025’s most anticipated sporting events - tomorrow.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Co-founder and President of ONE Championship Hua Fung Teh shared insights into the organisation’s regional plans and emphasised its commitment to discovering local talent in Qatar.
Hua Fung Teh highlighted ONE Championship’s global reach: “We are the world’s largest martial arts organisation and a home of martial arts. We are the only global combat sport promotion that does different types of martial arts. We don’t just do MMA, we don’t just do kickboxing; we offer a whole variety that encompasses striking, ground fighting, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts.”
ONE Championship Co-Founder and Group President, Hua Fung Teh, expressing his appreciation to The Peninsula and its media coverage of ONE Championship since its journey began in Qatar.
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Discussing the organisation’s plans for entering the region, Teh said, “I think how we see ourselves in the region is really about introducing different types of martial arts to different audiences, developing a fan base that truly appreciates the diversity that we bring to the table. As we have done in many parts of the world, we also hope to unearth local talent.”
Regarding the upcoming ONE:171 bout, he noted that the event will feature athletes not only from international markets but also from the MENA region.
“We have more fights this year – 14 bouts – making it a bigger, better, and more diverse card. We have athletes from over 15 nationalities, including 6 from MENA. We’re going to have a female fight this year. Actually, one of our bouts features Jake Peacock, who is limb different as he only has one arm. I think fans can look forward to seeing him in ONE:171,” Teh added.
Teh also underscored the cultural impact of ONE Championship’s events in Qatar, recalling that the recent season of The Apprentice ONE Championship Edition filmed two episodes in Qatar, which showcased the country’s rich culture, traditions, and modern development.
“I have received a lot of messages from Western friends complimenting the country and its unique blend of tradition and modernity,” he said.
In concluding his remarks, Teh expressed gratitude for the long-standing collaboration with The Peninsula. “Thanks to The Peninsula management for the coverage and the collaboration. We started here with you, and I appreciate this partnership,” he stated.
The ONE:171 bout is expected to draw a large crowd at Lusail Sports Arena, with tickets selling out rapidly, and the event will be streamed globally, reinforcing ONE Championship’s commitment to delivering diverse martial arts to audiences worldwide.
