ONE Championship has made significant leadership changes, parting ways with key figures including Vice President Rich Franklin, Senior Vice President of Competition Matt Hume, and Chief Operating Officer John Scheler. These departures represent a substantial restructuring at the highest levels of the promotion, occurring in the wake of reported financial difficulties, event cancellations, and broader organizational adjustments within the company.
Rich Franklin, Matt Hume, and John Scheler Depart ONE Championship
Rich Franklin, a former UFC middleweight champion, joined ONE Championship as Vice President in May 2014. Before his tenure at ONE, he had consulted for the UFC. Over the past decade, Franklin played a pivotal role in ONE’s expansion efforts in the United States, working with sports commissions to gain approval for the promotion’s unique ruleset. He also led the ONE Warrior Series, a talent development program that launched several fighters onto the main roster. As recently as early 2025, Franklin was actively involved in discussions about future U.S. events.
Matt Hume, who has been with ONE since its inception, initially served as Chief Official and head referee before transitioning to an executive role as Vice President of Operations and Competition in 2012. His responsibilities encompassed matchmaking, talent acquisition, and the oversight of the promotion’s rules and regulations. Hume had a prior connection with Rich Franklin, having trained him during his fighting career. His tenure at ONE spanned over 13 years, making him one of its longest-serving executives. Hume’s time at the company was not without its controversies, including public accusations from a manager and a former champion regarding his practices.
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 role at ONE, Scheler held significant strategy and operations positions at the XFL and WWE. He also served as a captain in the Marine Corps before his career in sports.
ONE Championship has been facing ongoing financial challenges, reporting a substantial consolidated loss of $90 million in 2023 and cumulative deficits exceeding $530 million since its founding. Financial reports for FY2024 indicated that a significant portion of broadcast revenue was non-cash, with actual cash revenue estimated at $19.5 million, a figure barely covering operational costs. The company held limited cash reserves at the end of 2024.
These departures follow previous layoffs. In October 2024, ONE reduced its workforce across various departments to streamline operations and pursue profitability. The company’s gaming unit, ONE Esports, also underwent significant staff reductions earlier in 2025.
On the events front, the promotion canceled its planned return to Denver, which had already been postponed. The cancellation coincided with the removal of the women’s strawweight MMA division and the release of its champion. ONE had only hosted two events in the U.S. since its American debut in 2023. Reports suggest that Amazon Prime Video, which broadcast ONE’s Fight Night series in the U.S., did not renew its broadcast deal beyond 2025.
These recent exits are consistent with a pattern observed over the past several years, which has included the quiet departure of other senior executives and a shift in the global production hub from Singapore to Bangkok. The promotion has also experienced strained fighter relations, with some former champions publicly seeking release from their contracts and at least one fighter initiating legal action for breach of contract.
Rich Franklin had expressed optimism about ONE’s U.S. expansion plans until early 2025, viewing his work in securing regulatory approvals as a source of personal accomplishment. As of this reporting, neither Franklin, Hume, nor Scheler have issued public statements regarding their departures.
