Malaysian fighter lands $100,000 contract with ONE Championship

By Hoang Nguyen November 13, 2023 | 04:22 am PT

Aliff Sor Dechapan has officially joined ONE Championship, Asia's biggest combat sports promotion, in a US$100,000 deal after his impressive win at the ONE Friday Fights event in Bangkok, Thailand.

Aliff Sor Dechapan (R) celebrates with his coach JP Gallacher at ONE Friday Fights on November 10, 2023. Photo by ONE Championship

Aliff Sor Dechapan (R) with his coach JP Gallacher after his victory at ONE Friday Fights in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 10, 2023. Photo by ONE Championship

Depachan, a Thai Malaysian Muay Thai fighter, defeated Iran’s Peyman Zolfaghari last weekend in the 55kg catch weight event. He knocked Zolfaghari out after less than two minutes in the first round, ONE Championship said on its website.

That was the fourth win a row at the ONE Friday Fights for the 19-year-old and his third by knockout.

His impressive streak caught the eye of ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who made him the seventh fighter in ONE Friday Fights to get a contract.

Dechapan’s coach JP Gallache said, as cited by the South China Morning Post: "We've spoken about this contract for a long time. This doesn't happen by accident, now the real fun begins. Aliff will be ONE world champion, 100%."

Dechapan made his ONE Friday Fights debut in April.