Canadian heavyweight Dustin Joynson (6-0) is taking things to the next level after inking a multi-fight deal with Asia’s top MMA promotion, ONE Championship.
Undefeated throughout his career and coming off a win over Carl Seumanutafa at CFFC 87, the towering 6’5” Victoria, B.C.-native proved he’s ready for the next step.
“We were talking with a few other places and I wanted to make sure it was the right offer for me.” Joynson said in an interview with MMA Empire.
“When Matt (Dodge Sports) asked me what do I think about ONE, I said I love it and didn’t know that was a possibility. Next thing you know we were in negotiations and things worked out, so I was super happy. I feel I matchup well with the top heavyweights in ONE, so I’m excited to get started.”
Much like Joynson, 34, Singapore-based ONE Championship has steadily risen to the upper echelon of the MMA landscape in the last few years.
Unlike western promotions, ONE’s main goal has been to promote “values of integrity, humility, honour, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion.” That approach has gained the respect of fighters and fans around the globe.
“Their reputation is so good amongst fighters,” Joynson said
“The UFC is great, but it’s mostly big in North America and they sell most of their fights with drama. I don’t know if it’s me being too Canadian, but I don’t feed off of drama too much. I’m pretty nice, for the most part, and don’t really like to trash talk. In ONE, it’s less about drama and more about trying to build the fighters up to look like superheroes so it’s like a clash of the titans. It becomes more about honour and respect than anything else, and that’s what I appreciate and am looking forward to.”
Joynson’s dream realized
Joynson’s MMA career started in 2012 with the common dream of becoming a world champion in a top organization. Years of hard work will finally have paid off for the Canadian heavyweight when he makes his walk into the ONE cage.
“It’s kind of surreal that it’s finally happening,” Joynson said.
“I remember when I was starting out I hadn’t even had an amateur fight yet and I thought about how cool it would be as an international fighter. I remember my coaches saying ‘let’s just worry about getting you a fight here first.’ Now, I’ve reached a point where I get to travel all over Asia, plus I’ve got friends and family in the Philippines, so fighting in Manila would be awesome.”
Although he doesn’t have an opponent lined up or an official debut date yet, Joynson said he’s preparing to make his debut at the end of February.
And after finally getting a little job security, he feels he’ll be able to perform at his best.
“Every fight that I’ve had in other promotions, if I lost, there’s a good chance bigger promotions weren’t going to sign me. It’s a sigh of relief signing with a big organization and having a multi-fight contract like this. It gives me confidence,” Joynson said.
“Now it’s just time to focus, train hard and do my best because I know I can compete at the highest level.”
