MAIN Championship targets global growth through commercial Muay Thai platform

MAIN Championship Founder and Managing Director Lankesh Rupasinghe and Muay Thai Federation Chairman Dilan Peiris at the media launch along with Head of Media and PR Aravinda De Almeida, Athlete Relations Manager Pradeep Perera, Muay Thai Federation M Security Faizal and Championship Headliner Arafath Ahmed - Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Michelle Therese Alles

Sri Lanka’s combat sports landscape is set for a significant transformation with the launch of MAIN Championship, a commercially driven Muay Thai platform aiming to create international pathways for Sri Lankan fighters. 

The platform combines sponsorships, media rights, brand partnerships, merchandise and licensing opportunities as organisers seek to contribute to Sri Lanka’s sports tourism through international combat sports.

The inaugural MAIN Championship will be staged on 9 August at the BMICH, bringing together Sri Lankan and international athletes for what organisers describe as the country’s first international professional Muay Thai fight night. 

MAIN Championship Founder and Managing Director Lankesh Rupasinghe said the MAIN (Martial Arts International Network) Championship was designed to be more than a sporting event, with the long-term objective of helping Sri Lankan fighters compete on the international stage while building a home-grown combat sports brand.

“This is a platform for local fighters to grow consistently through world-class event experiences,” he said.

Speaking exclusively to Daily FT, Rupasinghe added that exposing local fighters to experienced international opponents was central to MAIN Championship’s development strategy, as competing repeatedly against the same opponents limited their progress. He said it would work closely with coaches and the Sri Lanka Muay Thai Federation to identify and prepare fighters for international competition. 

MAIN Championship Head of Media and PR Aravinda De Almeida said the decision to launch the platform this year follows the steady development of Muay Thai in Sri Lanka, citing a growing athlete base, stronger international engagement and increasing public interest in the sport.

“The sport has been quietly building in Sri Lanka for years and the athletes are here, the appetite is here, and the global Muay Thai community is more connected than ever. 2026 felt like the right time. If not now, when?” he said.

MAIN Championship Headliner Arafath Ahmed said Sri Lanka’s Muay Thai landscape has evolved significantly over the past two decades, noting that fighters once trained with few opportunities to compete, whereas the emergence of larger-scale tournaments is now creating new experiences for local athletes.

Beyond athlete development, MAIN Championship also aims to create new commercial opportunities for the sport by providing a platform for corporate investment in Muay Thai, according to MAIN Championship Lead Commentator Ishraq Wahab.

“When companies sponsor MAIN Championship, that money flows down to fighters, gyms and athletes,” he said, adding that the platform could help attract greater private-sector investment into a sport where many competitors had previously lacked access to consistent financial support despite competing at national and international level.

MAIN Championship Athlete Relations Manager Pradeep Perera said Sri Lanka’s challenge has never been a shortage of talent but rather the absence of a pathway to professional competition overseas.

“Our fighters are not lacking talent. What they have lacked is a pathway to the international level,” he said.

Following the inaugural event, organisers plan to take the MAIN Championship overseas while pursuing future franchise opportunities.