The Story Behind ONE Championship's World-Class Shows

This Friday, 24 November, at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, ONE Championship will put on another signature night of world-class martial arts action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

Over the past six years, the organization has quickly become synonymous with the most spectacular show production Asia has ever seen. After all, ONE Championship is a pioneer in combining the unique excitement and energy of a live bout, the raw and refined athleticism of the Olympics, the honorable tradition of martial arts, and the unmistakable adrenaline of a rock concert.

A big reason for the organization’s success is its strategic partnerships, especially with The Show Company. The Show Company, or ShowCo for short, is a Singapore-based premium class hire company which specializes in massive festivals and arena spectacles.

In fact, it was ShowCo which immediately saw the elaborate vision for ONE Championship, when others could not even perceive it.

“When we started this company six years ago, it was difficult to find a partner that truly understood the vision and the philosophy of what we wanted to deliver,” said Victor Cui, CEO International of ONE Championship.

“That vision was of delivering a world-class sporting experience that nobody in Asia had ever experienced, along with the philosophy of showcasing our Asian heroes to the world by making it like a rock concert.

“One of the first companies that really understood our vision and our philosophy was ShowCo. It’s been a great partnership, and we’re very excited to be working with them.”

Founded by Joseph Sim in 1986, ShowCo has produced countless major festivals and events, including Ultra Singapore, MTV World Stage, ZoukOut, and F1 Rocks.

ShowCo, which serves as the official technical company and production partner for ONE Championship’s events in Singapore and Malaysia, kicked off the collaboration in March 2012 with ONE: WAR OF THE LIONS at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It was the third show in ONE Championship history.

Ever since that fateful night, ShowCo has maintained a steady presence. It is a special and unique partnership that Sim values.

“The most intimate events Show Company does are with ONE Championship in Singapore and Malaysia,” Sim says. “We have been working together for maybe 30 shows on the record, so we are very familiar with the entire setup.”

Planning for an event begins several weeks in advance, where there are several meetings and constant dialogue between ONE Championship and ShowCo with regard to the venue setup and overall staging of the spectacle.

The operation is a carefully and strategically planned process that transforms a venue into ONE’s envisioned rock concert atmosphere. That includes the lighting, wiring, videos, speakers, and all the necessary components that go into making each world-class event an electrifying and unforgettable experience.

According to Ahmad Khairil, Operations Manager for ShowCo, communication is key, and perhaps the most important meeting of all happens right before showtime.

“Communication is the key word for us in operations, because that is where we need to distribute all the info,” he explains. “We have a meeting regarding every issue we might need to overcome during the setup, so when we step into the venue, everything is efficient.”

It appears to be the perfect arrangement. ShowCo has helped ONE Championship brings its immaculate vision to life, and both parties are constantly looking for even more cutting-edge ways to excite the fans and evolve the product.

Cui, for one, could not be any happier with the partnership.

“One of the things ONE Championship prides itself on is working only with the best in the field – the best in the industry. Show Company is exactly that. Their name is recognized all across Asia as providing world-class service, and one of the best partners you could possibly have for an event,” he says.

“A ONE Championship night is about storytelling. It’s about telling these amazing stories of Asian heroes that we want to look up to, and that storytelling requires that we have a great partner on every aspect of our technical side of the business.

“That’s what Show Company helps us deliver, and makes sure the experience we showcase to our fans is flawless.”

This coming Friday, 24 November, up to 1 billion people watching on a global broadcast to 128 countries will have another chance to enjoy the ONE Championship experience, as ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT broadcast live from a roaring Singapore Indoor Stadium.

In the headlining attraction, ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren will defend his belt for the last time in his retirement match against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki.

While those two living martial arts legends will undoubtedly amp up the crowd, ShowCo will help make the pulsating night all the more epic.