Why ONE Championship Has a Heavyweight Division But No Rankings

ONE Championship has carved out a unique identity in the world of combat sports by blending MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling under one global banner. While the promotion does feature a heavyweight division in MMA, fans often wonder why this category lacks an official rankings system especially when ONE ranks athletes in most other weight classes. The absence of heavyweight rankings is not by accident; it’s a result of deliberate strategy, resource allocation, and the evolving nature of the promotion’s priorities.

A Focus on Muay Thai and Lighter Divisions

One of the clearest reasons lies in ONE Championship’s core identity. Unlike most Western promotions, ONE is heavily invested in showcasing elite talent from Asia’s traditional martial arts, particularly Muay Thai. Many of its most active divisions—flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight—are hotbeds for top-tier competition in both MMA and striking sports. These divisions are teeming with talent, often featuring athletes from Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and other Asian countries where smaller weight classes dominate the martial arts scene.

As a result, ONE has naturally funneled more promotional energy, matchmaking focus, and rankings attention into divisions that reflect this regional talent pool. Lightweight and below is where the majority of the promotion’s stars reside and where the most compelling storylines unfold. The rankings help fuel title shots, contender build-up, and fan engagement in these weight classes.

Limited Depth in the Heavyweight Division

Another practical reason for the absence of heavyweight rankings is the lack of roster depth. While ONE has signed notable heavyweights—such as Arjan Bhullar, Anatoly Malykhin, and Amir Aliakbari—the number of consistently active and competitive fighters in this weight class is small compared to the lighter divisions. Rankings systems thrive when there’s a steady flow of matchups and a hierarchy that can shift based on performance. In the heavyweight division, where fights are less frequent and the roster is thinner, maintaining a credible, dynamic rankings list becomes challenging.

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Strategic Brand Positioning

From a branding standpoint, ONE Championship is positioning itself as more than just an MMA promotion—it aims to be the “Home of Martial Arts.” In this model, emphasis is placed on showcasing martial arts in their purest forms, with particular reverence for Asian cultural roots. Muay Thai fights in 4oz gloves, submission grappling showcases, and unique rulesets offer a different flavor than the more homogenized approach of traditional MMA promotions. In this ecosystem, heavyweights simply aren’t the marquee draw.

By contrast, heavyweights are often the crown jewels in promotions like the UFC or boxing organizations because of their knockout potential and star power. But ONE’s brand doesn’t revolve around the “bigger is better” ideology. It thrives on speed, technique, and martial arts spirit—qualities more often found in lighter weight classes.

Logistical and Promotional Constraints

There are also logistical factors to consider. Recruiting top-tier heavyweights from around the globe involves navigating visa issues, medical clearances, and costlier contracts. Given the relatively lower marketability of heavyweights within Asia, it may not be financially or strategically viable for ONE to build and sustain a robust heavyweight division with enough depth to justify rankings.

Moreover, the promotion appears to be using the heavyweight class more selectively—creating high-stakes, singular matchups (like Bhullar vs. Malykhin) rather than developing a deep contender queue. This allows ONE to control the narrative and promote its few big men as special attractions rather than ranking-driven competitors.