ONE Championship has executed a significant roster restructure, releasing six fighters across its MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing divisions. The Bangkok Post first reported the departures, which affect athletes from multiple countries and disciplines.
The most high-profile casualty is Thai striking legend Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, whose recent decline has been stark and painful to witness.
Once considered among the world's elite kickboxers, Sitthichai has suffered back-to-back defeats and managed just one victory in his last five outings. His inability to recapture past form ultimately sealed his fate with the promotion.
Swedish striker Smilla Sundell presents a unique case among the releases. At just 20 years old, the talented fighter's departure came due to her being unable to compete in ONE's heaviest women's weight class.
Australian veteran Alex Roberts faced the harsh reality of combat sports at 36 years old. His two recent losses forced ONE Championship to make the difficult decision to move on from the experienced campaigner.
Compatriot Celest Hansen's struggles proved even more pronounced, with four defeats in her last five appearances painting a clear picture of declining competitiveness.
Russian fighter Shamil Adukhov's release comes after two consecutive losses. He lost his debut bout to Aliff Sor Dechapan in less than five minutes and was most recently TKO’d by Ellis Badr Barboza this past August.
South Korean Kwon Won Il's case differs from his released fighters, as ONE Championship opted to waive its matching rights. The 30-year-old previously challenged Fabricio Andrade for the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship but was stopped via TKO in under a minute.
This roster purge follows July 2025's release of five fighters, including former champion Danielle Kelly.
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