ONE CEO Chatri Sichhotton applauds Francis Ngannou for his boxing success and praises his betting on himself

Chatri Sichhotton, the CEO of ONE Championship, shared his surprise at Francis Ngannou’s unexpected success in the boxing world.

Sichhotton acknowledged Ngannou’s bold move of leaving the UFC as champion and potentially facing WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in the ring as a significant gamble. However, he praised Ngannou for thriving in that risk and proving the skeptics wrong.

Speaking to Brendan Schaub, Sichhotton expressed his amazement at Ngannou’s performance in the fight with Tyson Fury, describing it as “crazy” and congratulating Ngannou for his achievement. He emphasized Ngannou’s self-made destiny and lauded his resilience and determination.

Regarding their own interactions, Sichhotton and Ngannou had discussions during Ngannou’s free agency, although their accounts of the negotiations differ. Sichhotton claimed ONE had initiated talks with Ngannou about a potential contract but later backed out, while Ngannou stated that Sichhotton never engaged in serious discussions about joining the promotion. Both parties confirmed a three-hour meeting in Los Angeles before Ngannou ultimately signed with PFL for his MMA career.

Reflecting on Ngannou’s success, Sichhotton attributed it to the fighter’s independence and willingness to challenge the best in the world. He commended Ngannou for taking a high-risk, high-reward approach that ultimately paid off, pointing to his remarkable life journey from working in Cameroon’s mines to overcoming homelessness in Paris as a testament to his resilience and determination.