Liam Nolan is no longer a ONE Championship fighter – but he could still make a comeback in the future.
The Bangkok Post understands the 28-year-old British Muay Thai striker’s contract has expired and was not renewed by the promotion, bringing an end to his six-year tenure.
“Happy to announce I'm a free agent and looking to get busy!” Nolan wrote on Instagram. “Promoters get me.
“I had an amazing run with ONE Championship – truly an amazing platform to be in. For now, me and my team decided it's best to part ways and I want to thank the team at ONE and Chatri [Sityodtong] for allowing me this.
“I'm still keen to build some momentum and get going to my full potential that I know I can be. Let's get going!!”
Chatri, ONE’s chairman and CEO, offered a positive response.
“Thank you for everything, Liam!” he wrote. “When you get some wins and momentum, you are always welcome back to ONE. Best wishes always for continued success and happiness!”
Liam Nolan (left) leaves ONE Championship after a loss to Abolfazl Alipourandi (right) in May
Nolan compiled a 4-5 record in ONE after debuting in March 2019. A former teammate of bantamweight kickboxing champ Jonathan Haggerty at Knowlesy Academy in London, he suffered back-to-back defeats before exiting the promotion.
The most recent came in May at ONE Fight Night 31, when he was knocked out in the first round by debutant Abolfazl Alipourandi. The bout was accepted on short notice after a planned rematch with Nauzet Trujillo fell through due to injury.
That fight came just months after Nolan had announced his retirement in January, only to be persuaded to return by Chatri himself.
After the KO loss at Lumpinee Stadium, Nolan told the Bangkok Post he had “given it a go” but felt his heart wasn’t in it – and that his original decision to walk away from the sport had been the right one.
But his latest announcement suggests a renewed motivation to rebuild and compete again – with both parties leaving the door open to a future return to ONE.
Liam Nolan_s return to ONE Championship in the future is possible, says CEO Chatri Sityodtong
Nolan’s exit comes a day after the Bangkok Post reported the release of five other fighters, including former atomweight submission grappling champion Danielle Kelly and No 4-ranked atomweight MMA contender Meng Bo.
The move also leaves a simmering feud with George Jarvis that now looks unlikely to ever boil over and reach the ring.
The 25-year-old Briton, who challenges Regian Eersel for the lightweight Muay Thai title next week at ONE Fight Night 34 in Bangkok, told the Bangkok Post that he had accepted an offer to fight Nolan – only for Nolan to turn it down.
Jarvis publicly shared redacted messages from ONE officials appearing to confirm the bout had been declined.
Nolan, for his part, had told the Bangkok Post earlier this year that if he beat Alipourandi, a fight with Jarvis could make sense – to decide who is the UK’s top lightweight Muay Thai fighter. But with that result never coming, and Nolan out of ONE, the match-up now seems unlikely.
The Bangkok Post understands the 28-year-old British Muay Thai striker’s contract has expired and was not renewed by the promotion, bringing an end to his six-year tenure.
“Happy to announce I'm a free agent and looking to get busy!” Nolan wrote on Instagram. “Promoters get me.
“I had an amazing run with ONE Championship – truly an amazing platform to be in. For now, me and my team decided it's best to part ways and I want to thank the team at ONE and Chatri [Sityodtong] for allowing me this.
“I'm still keen to build some momentum and get going to my full potential that I know I can be. Let's get going!!”
Chatri, ONE’s chairman and CEO, offered a positive response.
“Thank you for everything, Liam!” he wrote. “When you get some wins and momentum, you are always welcome back to ONE. Best wishes always for continued success and happiness!”
Liam Nolan (left) leaves ONE Championship after a loss to Abolfazl Alipourandi (right) in May
Nolan compiled a 4-5 record in ONE after debuting in March 2019. A former teammate of bantamweight kickboxing champ Jonathan Haggerty at Knowlesy Academy in London, he suffered back-to-back defeats before exiting the promotion.
The most recent came in May at ONE Fight Night 31, when he was knocked out in the first round by debutant Abolfazl Alipourandi. The bout was accepted on short notice after a planned rematch with Nauzet Trujillo fell through due to injury.
That fight came just months after Nolan had announced his retirement in January, only to be persuaded to return by Chatri himself.
After the KO loss at Lumpinee Stadium, Nolan told the Bangkok Post he had “given it a go” but felt his heart wasn’t in it – and that his original decision to walk away from the sport had been the right one.
But his latest announcement suggests a renewed motivation to rebuild and compete again – with both parties leaving the door open to a future return to ONE.
Liam Nolan_s return to ONE Championship in the future is possible, says CEO Chatri Sityodtong
Nolan’s exit comes a day after the Bangkok Post reported the release of five other fighters, including former atomweight submission grappling champion Danielle Kelly and No 4-ranked atomweight MMA contender Meng Bo.
The move also leaves a simmering feud with George Jarvis that now looks unlikely to ever boil over and reach the ring.
The 25-year-old Briton, who challenges Regian Eersel for the lightweight Muay Thai title next week at ONE Fight Night 34 in Bangkok, told the Bangkok Post that he had accepted an offer to fight Nolan – only for Nolan to turn it down.
Jarvis publicly shared redacted messages from ONE officials appearing to confirm the bout had been declined.
Nolan, for his part, had told the Bangkok Post earlier this year that if he beat Alipourandi, a fight with Jarvis could make sense – to decide who is the UK’s top lightweight Muay Thai fighter. But with that result never coming, and Nolan out of ONE, the match-up now seems unlikely.
