ONE Championship Sets up an Interim Title Bout Amidst Contract Disputes With Champion Arjan Bhullar
Follow Us
ONE Championship’s heavyweight title fight will not involve the current champion Arjan Bhullar. Instead, the Asia-based international MMA promotion announced that they’ll be introducing an interim belt.
This interim title fight will go down on the ONE: Only the Brave card on January 28, 2022, which is likely to take place in Singapore. According to the promotion’s CEO, they approached the current champion with multiple offers, but to no avail.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong, in a statement to SCMP, said, “Arjan and his management team have declined multiple offers to defend the ONE heavyweight world championship under his current contract. While this plays out, the show must go on in our heavyweight division, so we will be crowning an interim world champion between top contenders Anatoly Malykhin and Kirill Grishenko.”
What. A. KNOCKOUT! Anatoly Malykhin 🇷🇺 takes out Amir Aliakbari with a DEVASTATING left hook! 💪 #ONERevolution #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/8XHGZLpIlj
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 24, 2021
Bhullar has been out of action since April when he won the title. He defeated Brandon Vera via TKO in the second round to get his hands on the gold. The former UFC fighter is currently on a four-fight win streak and is 2-0 in his current promotion.
Since the current champion will be on the sidelines for some time, Anatoly Malykhin and Kirill Grishenko will go at each other to win the interim belt. Malykhin is currently 9-0 in his career, with two of those wins coming in the current promotion. He is coming off a devastating first-round KO win over Amir Aliakbari in his last fight.
“It’s Just the Beginning for Her” – Angela Lee Believes Ritu Phogat Still Destined for Success
Grishenko is also an undefeated fighter and has a 5-0 record. He is also 2-0 in ONE Championship and is coming off a win over Dustin Joynson in October.
The same agency as Francis Ngannou represents Arjan Bhullar
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
CAA Combat Sports represents the current ONE Championship heavyweight champion, Arjan Bhullar. The same agency represents the current UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’, right now, is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in a title unification bout.
Ngannou himself is in a contract dispute with the UFC. He only has one fight left in his contract and talk of a new contract being signed is not there yet. UFC President Dana White, in a recent interview, said that Ngannou hasn’t had the best representation.
Trending
Canelo Alvarez Sums Up Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia Rematch in Four Words
May 01, 2024 02:25 PM EDT
A Far Cry From Floyd Mayweather’s Treatment of Him, Gervonta Davis Applauds Kevin Durant’s Support for Anthony Edwards
April 30, 2024 09:32 AM EDT
Fresh Controversy Brews After Sha’Carri Richardson and Team USA ‘Outfit’ Fallout As Athlete Robbed of Paris Olympics Dream Over Sponsorship
May 01, 2024 04:27 PM EDT
“I’m Frustrated”- Despite $400 Million Net Worth Tag, Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals His Only “Cheaper” NASCAR Miss
May 01, 2024 10:32 AM EDT
Madrid Open: Disappointed Coco Gauff Fans Demand Rightful Streaming of Her Intense Encounter Against Madison Keys
April 29, 2024 06:39 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Both ONE Championship and Bhullar would be hoping to sort out the contract issues soon as the champion being out for long holds up the division.
Khabib Nurmagomedov to Support His Teammate Saygid Izagakhmaev in Person for His Debut at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS
Written by:
