Demetrious Johnson says One Championship can sell out Madison Square Garden for first US event
- ‘Mighty Mouse’ says One is scouting venues along the East Coast for its first show in the US next year
- Tokyo morning card on TNT ‘not a one-off event, it’s going to be more of the norm going forward’
Demetrious Johnson is confident One Championship could sell out Madison Square Garden should the iconic venue host the Asian MMA organisation’s first show on US soil.
One made its debut on US television last weekend. Its blockbuster Century double-header event was broadcast on cable network TNT, with Part 1 – held in the morning in Tokyo – given a prime-time slot.
The move comes as the company looks to break into the US market, with an event in the US earmarked for next year.
“This is not a one-off event, it’s going to be more of the norm going forward,” Johnson told Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “When One Championship made this deal with TNT they were gonna be showing more live events. When One comes to North America they’re gonna be broadcasting more on TNT. Everybody can expect to see more.
“If we go to Madison Square Garden, I think we can sell the place out. If you bring some high-level martial artists over there, you bring over Rodtang, you bring over Giorgio Petrosyan, you bring over Christian Lee, there’s so many great athletes. Put on some kick-boxing, Muay Thai in four-ounce gloves.
“If you’re a true martial arts fan, and you wanna see some high-level striking and mixed martial arts, I think you would not be disappointed.”
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“From what I’ve been told they’re talking about East Coast,” he said.
“It’s a big arena, a symbolic place, everybody’s fought there. I wouldn’t be surprised if MSG’s one of them [the arenas being considered]. They said something along the East Coast area.”
