Victor Cui is the CEO of One Championships, which is the largest MMA organization in Asia at the moment.
UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor is arguably the biggest star in MMA, but Cui would eventually wind up in prison if the promotion signed the Irishman.
“Let’s say we had a press conference in China and [McGregor] threw a water bottle,” Cui said to MMA Fighting. “I would go to jail. They’d put me in jail. I’m not kidding around. At the end of the shows in China, I meet with the government officials and they have a checklist. Did we play this song, did we play this song? If you played one extra song, they can throw me in jail and they’ve done that to other concert promoters.”
It is unlikely that the promotion could even sign the fighter, as their financial levels are nowhere near that of the UFC.
Cui also believes that MMA does make the world a better place, especially in his home country of Asia.
“A big part of what drives the spirit of ONE Championship is really just the belief that martial arts makes the world a better place,” Cui said. “Of course want it to be successful business, of course we want to continue to grow in a successful business enterprise. That philosophy of we’re making the world a better place permeates throughout the entire organization. I think it’s something our fans really appreciate in Asia.”
The promotions next event is One Championships 55, which takes place on Friday, May 26 with Angela Lee and Ben Askren defending their gold in the featured spots.
