Mixed martial arts and combat sports promoter One Championship has announced a partnership with the Sports Authority of Thailand to develop Muay Thai projects.

The collaboration will see One Championship run its One Hero Series competition in Thailand. This will focus on discovering grassroots Muay Thai talent, and providing promising fighters with a platform to showcase their skills and build careers in the sport. In 2019, the first One Hero Series was held across 12 events in Beijing, China.

In response to further queries One Championship told SportBusiness that there will be a series of competitions, events and activations across the country in Thailand, which will be live broadcasted with shoulder content support on multiple platforms from FTA channel to online channels, making for a multi-platform campaign that will span over a period of up to nine months.

Currently, One Championship is planning for at least 10 events across the country in China.

The One-SAT deal was made public at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel ahead of One Championship’s One:A New Tomorrow event at the Impact Arena last Friday night. Khemmapol Auitayakul, secretary to Thailand’s minister of tourism and sports, and Tanukiat Janchum, the government’s director of professional sports development, were in attendance. The SAT is a government body that regulates sports associations in Thailand.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Jachum said: “We are excited to announce this partnership with ONE Championship, with our goal of raising the profile of the sport of Muay Thai. Muay Thai is steeped in Thai martial arts history. It is a representation of our people and our culture.

“The sport deserves to be showcased on a global scale, to millions of people around the world. Through this partnership with ONE, we can leverage both of our resources to bring the action and excitement of authentic Muay Thai to fans across the globe.”

Chatri Sityodtong, the chairman and chief executive of One Championship said: “Together, we will work towards developing the sport of Muay Thai not just in the country, but also on a massive global scale. There is a lot of spectacular Muay Thai talent in Thailand.”