One of the globe's most rapidly-rising sports properties may soon be making its way to New Zealand shores.
Mixed martial arts organisation ONE Championship has established itself as the figurehead of the sport across Asia, showcasing its wares at sold-out events across the continent's largest cities.
According to Chairman and CEO Chartri Sityodtong, expansion into the Australian and New Zealand markets has been pencilled into their plans for some time.
"We've looked at it a few times. It's definitely on our radar, for sure," he told media at a press conference prior to ONE Championship: Kings and Conquerors event, scheduled for Saturday in Macao.
The Thai business magnate admitted some preliminary discussions had already been entered into, however there still remained the matter of ensuring they had wholesale buy-in from all relevant parties before any plans are cast in stone.
"We typically like to venture into a new country when we have constituency support. We need to have the government support, the media broadcast support, the martial arts and business community support, before we enter.
"We are in discussions over there, so again, I don't want to promise anything until it's 100 per cent."
The promotion's foundations are deeply-rooted within Asia, where it proudly upholds itself as a purveyor of martial arts in its purest sense in what is its spiritual birthplace.
A self-made millionaire entrepreneur, Sityodtong, alongside Star Sports executive Victor Cui, launched ONE Championship in 2011 and in just seven years it's steamrolled its way to securing a staggering 90% share of the continent's highly-competitive MMA market.
It's clear where ONE's priorities lie, and Sityodtong remains wholeheartedly committed to his audience there and espousing what he believes to be the true values of the ancient arts in lieu of the manufactured "controversy, hatred, and disrespect" of the promotion's main competitors.
While dismissive of the idea of breaching the North American market, he views the transition further into the south of the pacific as an almost natural progression.
"I have no interest in the western world, but Australia and New Zealand I am interested in. It's Australasia," said the Harvard Business School graduate.
"Asia is our main focus but there's a massive fanbase growing in Australia and New Zealand. There's a lot of talent there and it's right at the edges of Asia, so it's very easy for us."
New Zealand already has a significant presence within the company's ranks in Kiwi-Malaysian Ev Ting, who's become one of the organisation's elite fighters and premier bantamweight title contenders.
Now broadcasting to 128 countries worldwide, Sityodtong's vision for the juggernaut he's helped create are as ambitious as they are admirable.
"This to me is not about money. Money is just a by-product of inspiring greatness, igniting hope, dreams, and strength across the continent.
"We're shaping the future of Asia, there's no question about it."
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