Asian martial arts network strikes Middle East broadcast deal

Martial arts fans are being offered the chance to watch the best of the best after the signing of a deal between beIN Sports and Asia’s premier mixed fighting network.

ONE Championship, which describes itself as Asia’s largest sports platform, said the beIN Sports deal will put all its events on screens in the Middle East and North Africa.

Chatri Sityodtong, the company’s CEO from Singapore, said it was only the first step. He plans live events in the region, the creation of training centers and martial arts schools — and ultimately the discovery of a star from Saudi Arabia.

“We are going to showcase all of our events live on beIN Sports. I’ve been visiting the Middle East quite often for work the last few years, and I see a lot of opportunity,” he said.

“I’m excited to work and show our events and build heroes in the region. I think there could be great opportunities in Saudi Arabia or Qatar, there’s a few countries in which we really see a lot of potential.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if in the coming years we’re able to create a Saudi Arabian superstar. There’s just so much opportunity because the fan base is growing in the Middle East, but there aren’t enough schools, not enough training centers.”

He said finding new talent was at the core of ONE’s mission.

“We’re looking for the very best martial artists. We host a whole bunch of different martial arts, not just MMA. We have scouts all over the world, and we’re looking for the very best future talent. So we don’t really look at which country they are from.

“We do want to find a Middle Eastern superstar, we do want to find a Saudi Arabian hero, that can inspire the whole country, but yet be a world champion on the global stage of ONE.”

Sityodtong said ONE’s