ONE Championship has reportedly made significant changes to its leadership team, with Vice President Rich Franklin, Senior Vice President of Competition Matt Hume, and Chief Operating Officer John Scheler no longer with the promotion. These departures represent a notable upheaval at the top of the organization, occurring against a backdrop of financial difficulties, event cancellations, and broader organizational adjustments within the company.
Rich Franklin, a former UFC middleweight champion, joined ONE Championship as Vice President in May 2014. Throughout his tenure, he was instrumental in the promotion’s expansion efforts in the United States, working to gain approval for ONE’s unique ruleset in various American states. He also spearheaded the ONE Warrior Series, a talent development program that launched several notable fighters. Franklin had been a visible figure in promoting ONE’s U.S. ambitions.
Matt Hume, who has been with ONE Championship since its inception, initially served as Chief Official and head referee before transitioning to an executive role. His responsibilities included matchmaking, talent recruitment, and overseeing the promotion’s rules and regulations. Hume had a prior connection with Franklin, having been his coach during Franklin’s fighting career. Hume’s time at ONE spanned over 13 years, making him one of the longest-serving executives.
John Scheler joined ONE in July 2020 as Senior Vice President of Events and Production Development and was later promoted to Chief Operating Officer in March 2022. Prior to his roles in combat sports, Scheler held leadership positions at the XFL and WWE, and served as a captain in the Marine Corps.
These executive departures come as ONE Championship continues to face considerable financial challenges. The promotion reported a significant loss in 2023 and has accumulated substantial deficits since its founding. Recent financial statements suggest that a large portion of its broadcast revenue is non-cash, raising concerns about actual cash flow and operational sustainability. The company had previously implemented layoffs in late 2024 to address its financial situation.
In terms of events, ONE has recently canceled planned U.S. events, including a return to Denver, and has also reportedly ceased operations for its women’s strawweight MMA division and released its champion in that category. The promotion’s U.S. expansion efforts appear to be scaling back, with reports indicating that its broadcast deal with Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. may not be renewed beyond 2025.
The recent exits follow a pattern of significant leadership turnover within ONE Championship. In early 2024, there were reports of several other senior C-suite executives leaving the company. The promotion has also shifted its global production hub from Singapore to Bangkok to centralize operations and reduce costs. Additionally, some fighters have expressed dissatisfaction with the promotion, with former champions publicly seeking release from their contracts.
As of this report, neither Franklin, Hume, nor Scheler have made public statements regarding their departures.
