ONE Championship’s bantamweight kickboxing division has just gotten even more stacked. The promotion has announced the blockbuster signing of Chinese superstar Wei Rui to its roster, adding to the likes of divisional kingpin Jonathan “The General” Haggerty and Hiroki Akimoto.
The 34-year-old is a multiple-time K-1 World Champion and is considered one of the top pound-for-pound kickboxers on the planet. After years of dominance on the Chinese circuit, Wei’s crowning achievement came in 2017 when he won the K-1 World Grand Prix Lightweight Championship Tournament. He became the first Chinese athlete in history to win the title.
BREAKING!
Former K-1 champion Wei Rui (69-3), widely regarded as China’s best kickboxer, has signed with ONE Championship. The 34-year-old has spent the majority of his career as a pound-for-pound great in the sport.
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— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) March 14, 2024
He now moves to ONE riding a staggering 20-fight win streak, having fallen to just one defeat in his past 10 years of competition. His overall record stands at an impressive 69-3 since making his professional debut in 2013.
Wei Rui speaks after aigning with ONE Championship
Wei Rui has spoken after making the switch to ONE Championship, where he will join the chase for the coveted ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title currently held by Jonathan Haggerty. Speaking to ONE, the Henan native told of his pride in joining the world’s largest martial arts organization.
“I have competed in many domestic and overseas events,” he said. “Despite the success and recognition I have achieved in China, I am still looking for opportunities to compete with the best fighters on the best platform. ONE Championship is the best combat sports promotion. It’s the right platform for me.”
Wei will now hope to join rare company and become just the third Chinese athlete to win a ONE World Title. Tang Kai currently holds the promotion’s featherweight MMA division. The 28-year-old unified the strap when he bagged his second win over interim king Thanh Le at ONE 166: Qatar earlier this month.
ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Champion Xiong Jing Nan was China’s first ONE World Champion. “The Panda” still reigns over the division that she first conquered way back in 2018. Wei’s debut fight has yet to be announced.
