Chatri Sityodtong
MMA in the Olympics? This Asian CEO is Determined to Make It Happen
When you think Olympics, it’s usually the more popular sports that produce headlines — sports like basketball, football, and athletics — rarely would you ever think of martial arts.
And while various martial arts disciplines already have dedicated spots in the Olympic lineup, it’s uncommon that they draw much attention.
Meet the Filipino Heavyweight Champ Who Wants To Make MMA The National Sport of The Philippines
If you were stuck in a dark alley with Brandon “The Truth” Vera, the heavyweight king of ONE Championship, you’d be in the safest place on earth. That’s because, on top of possessing one-punch knockout power, Brandon is the epitome of a gentle giant.
Meet the CEO Putting Asian Martial Artists Back on the Map
Few people understand the what it takes to run a martial arts company — as both a promoter and a fighter — as thorough as Chatri Sityodtong, CEO of Asia’s largest sports media company, ONE Championship.
Chatri is a 47-year-old Thai-Japanese entrepreneur who has worked the full spectrum of jobs within the martial arts industry. He started off as a Muay Thai practitioner when he was a child, became a cornerman for his fellow fighters, head coach, and eventually the CEO of a martial arts promotion valued at $1 billion. From the values he learned in martial arts, Chatri was able to escape poverty in Thailand and pursue a dream to connect all of Asia under the umbrella of martial arts.
