St-Pierre, Askren, Gracie To Appear As Special Guests On ‘The Apprentice’
A trio of icons are scheduled to make special guest appearances on ONE Championship’s upcoming reality television show.
On Wednesday, the organization announced that Ben “Funky” Askren, Renzo Gracie, and Georges “Rush” St-Pierre will all serve as special guests on “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.”
The three megastars will help lead the show’s contestants in the boardroom and through physical challenges that will test their athletic abilities and endurance.
“It is my absolute honor to announce that mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre, master Renzo Gracie, and former ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren will join me in guiding 16 young entrepreneurs who will compete in the boardroom to become ‘The Apprentice’ and work by my side at ONE Championship,” ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said.
St-Pierre is considered one of the greatest and most popular mixed martial artists of all-time.
The Canadian is a 13-time Mixed Martial Arts World Champion who has competed against the top welterweight fighters for nearly 15 years.
He also runs the GSP Foundation, which supports programs that prevent bullying and encourage youth participation in sports.
“I am beyond excited to fly to Asia to be part of ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition,’” St-Pierre said.
“Chatri is a great leader and entrepreneur, and it is an honor for me to guest star alongside him on the show and learn everything that I can. I hope to share my insight and knowledge in business, as well as how it is to be an elite athlete, with the contestants and help them become successful.”
Gracie, whose family was vital in popularizing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has previously competed under the ONE banner.
The submission guru, who owns and operates the famed Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City, United States, participated in a special “legend versus legend” welterweight showdown at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS in July 2018. He won that bout by submitting three-division King Of Pancrase Yuki Kondo via rear-naked choke in round two.
The Brazilian is thrilled to be rejoining ONE, albeit in a different type of role.
“Chatri is a personal friend, and I’ve seen him build ONE Championship into an immensely successful business today,” Gracie said.
“I have tremendous respect for the way Chatri leads and runs his company, and I am truly honored to be able to join him in discovering ‘The Apprentice’ on one of the biggest reality TV shows in history! I can’t wait to meet the contestants and work with them on any challenge.”
The reality television program will also mark the return of Askren, a former United States Olympic wrestler who captured the ONE Welterweight World Title in August 2014 and held the gold through the duration of his time in The Home Of Martial Arts.
Additionally, the longtime welterweight king co-owns Askren Wrestling Academy, which now has five locations throughout Wisconsin, United States.
“It feels great to be able to be back working with ONE Championship again, although this time, it will be outside of the ONE Circle,” Askren said.
“I can’t wait to bring the ‘Funky’ into the boardroom and share some of my experience in business and athletics with the participants. I am sure we will have so much fun on the show.”
These three legends will join a slew of the promotion’s current mixed martial arts stars who were already confirmed to appear on the reality show.
Those include ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan, Indian Wrestling Champion Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat, and multiple-time Karate World Champion “Super” Sage Northcutt.
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