Chatri Sityodtong (@yodchatri) is the founder and CEO of ONE Championship, one of the top-10 biggest sports-media properties in the world in terms of viewership and engagement (alongside the NBA, Formula One, Champions League, and Premier League), with a global broadcast reach to 195 countries.
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Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Start.
[00:06:49] Chatri Trisiripisal vs. Yodchatri Sityodtong
[00:08:35] My own experience with Muay Thai.
[00:10:05] Chatri’s introduction to Muay Thai.
[00:10:58] Chatri processes the strained relationship with his father.
[00:17:28] Fight Porn and my introduction to ONE.
[00:18:56] A pep talk in Japanese.
[00:23:00] Chatri’s secret life in a Harvard dorm with his mother on $4 a day.
[00:30:11] How Chatri made the money to fuel his martial arts ambitions.
[00:35:19] Why wealth has never provided Chatri with a sense of security.
[00:38:43] The moment Chatri began to fulfill one his mother’s prophecies.
[00:41:08] “To unleash your greatness, you must be surrounded by greatness.”
[00:44:56] Witnessing Yamato-damashii: the Japanese warrior spirit.
[00:48:43] Moving to Singapore and starting Evolve.
[00:51:59] Overcoming ONE’s initial financial challenges.
[01:03:06] Building ONE with Bushido-grade excellence.
[01:08:25] How ONE maintains quality and quantity fights and fighters.
[01:16:05] Leveraging social media to bring compelling human stories to ONE’s forefront.
[01:26:40] Chatri’s $100 million breakfast with Sequoia Capital.
[01:41:42] Making deals with CAA’s Fabian Stechel.
[01:45:13] A serendipitous meeting that resulted in investment from Qatar.
[01:47:51] Changing lives and building relationships across generations with martial arts.
[01:51:35] Recommended reading and admirable storytellers.
[02:01:03] A gracious invitation.
[02:02:39] Where in the world is ONE enjoyed most?
[02:07:14] Dealing with AI development and deep fakes.
[02:08:45] Global broadcasting business from behind the scenes.
[02:16:31] Funds raised and the competitive benefits of being early in the game.
[02:19:30] Fond regards for Renzo Gracie.
[02:23:49] Legendary fighters we would love to witness in their prime.
[02:26:27] High marks for Marcelo Garcia.
[02:29:23] How I learned what Chatri calls “flawless” Japanese.
[02:31:16] Chatri’s billboard and parting thoughts.
*
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