One Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong expects the company's recently-announced deal with U.S. broadcaster Turner Sports will go a long way toward raising the martial arts organization's profile in the U.S.
He just doesn't think it stops there.
"I think the Turner Sports deal is a major, major inflection point for, not just One Championship, but for Asia," Sityodtong told The Japan Times over the phone. "This is the first time that a major U.S. broadcaster has bought significant media rights for an Asian sports property. Historically, Asia always imported sports, meaning that all the Asian broadcasters would buy NBA or F1 or Champions League etc.