Simon Marcus

Simon Marcus (born 5 November 1986), also known as The One, is a Canadian mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer, who competes in the Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight divisions.

He is currently signed with Unified MMA.

He was formerly signed with Glory, where he was the former two-time Glory Middleweight champion.

He began his amateur career in 2006 and came to prominence by taking a gold medal at the 2007 IFMA World Championships at −81 kg/178 lb before finishing runner-up the following year.

Marcus turned professional in 2007 and

In 2009, he became the WKA Amateur North American Cruiserweight (−86 kg/189 lb) Champion, and defeated Artem Vakhitov in the finals of the World Combat Games 2010 −81 kg/178 lb Muaythai division to claim gold there.

2010 also saw his take notable wins over Filip Verlinden, Kun Khmer legend Eh Phoutong and Japanese Kyokushin stylist Ryuta Noji.

He ended the year with a first round knockout of Chinese sanshou fighter Guo Hang Hang in Foshan, China.

Was obtaining pro and amateur careers at the same time up until 2011.

He won his first pro titles in Thailand the following year by claiming the Thaphae Stadium Light Heavyweight belt and the Northern Thailand Cruiserweight strap.

Guo and Marcus then rematched at the Wushu vs. Muaythai event at the Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Hefei, China on 11 June 2011 where Marcus once again came out on top, winning on points after battering Guo with low kicks throughout the fight.

In 2011, Marcus was scheduled to face former Rajadamnern Stadium champion Kaoklai Kaennorsing in Anaheim, California, United States, but the bout fell through.

He would then sign with the short-lived Muaythai Premier League, and debuted with a unanimous decision win over familiar foe Artem Vakhitov at the Muaythai Premier League: Round 1 in Long Beach, California, United States, on 2 September 2011.

Another big fight then fell through for Marcus as he was expected to go up against L'houcine "Aussie" Ouzgni at the Muaythai Premier League: Round 3 in the Hague, Netherlands on 6 November 2011 but Ouzgni pulled out on short notice.

In 2012, when he beat Kaoklai Kaennorsing for the WPMF World Light Heavyweight title and defeated Joe Schilling twice and Jason Wilnis three times in a notable rivalries, Marcus also holds a win over former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya.

In 2012, he entered the top ten in the world rankings for the first time in his career, coming in at #9.

On 25 February 2012, Simon Marcus and Joe Schilling went head to head in a bout to determine North America's top light heavyweight at Lion Fight Promotions: Battle in the Desert 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both men agreed to a "winner takes all" scenario, meaning that whoever came out victorious would take 100% of the fight purse, and the fight ended as controversially as it began.

In round one, Marcus tripped Schilling, sending his head slamming into the canvas.

As Schilling returned to his feet, clearly hurt from the throw, Marcus stormed in and knocked him down with a left hook.

He was able to beat the count but Marcus went on the attack again and knocked Schilling out with a right elbow soon after.

Following the fight, Schilling's camp made the accusation that the sweep that Marcus used to daze him initially was illegal and appealed to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to have the bout result overturned to a no contest, which was rejected.

In 2012, he earned his first world title shot and his long-awaited fight with Kaoklai Kaennorsing was set for 16 March in Bangkok, Thailand, with the vacant WPMF World Light Heavyweight (−79 kg/175 lb) Championship also on the line.

Marcus dominated the action over five rounds, and walked away with the unanimous decision victory and his first world title at professional level.

On 21 April 2012, Marcus defeated two opponents the same night at the Qianjiang World Muay Thai King Challenge in Beijing, China.

He first knocked out Green Spangler before beating Li Shuai via decision in his second fight.

Due to the controversy surrounding the ending of their first fight, Marcus and Joe Schilling rematched at Lion Fight Muay Thai VI in Las Vegas on 12 May 2012 in a WBC Muaythai World Light Heavyweight (−79 kg/175 lb) title eliminator.

It was close this time, with both men exchanging menacing shots.

Marcus' knees and throws from the clinch would be the deciding factor, however, as he was awarded the majority decision (47-47, 48–47, 49–46).

Marcus moved up to #6 in the world rankings and was expected to face Artem Levin, widely considered the world's best light heavyweight kickfighter, for the Russian's WBC Muaythai World Light Heavyweight strap at Battle for the Belts in Bangkok on 9 June 2012.

However, Marcus withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and was replaced by Joe Schilling.

Levin would then also withdraw.

Levin vs. Marcus was then pencilled in for The Battle of Champions 7: School vs. School event at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, for the vacant WMC World Light Heavyweight (−79 kg/175 lb) title on 16 November 2012 but the event was cancelled.

He was ranked as a top ten middleweight by Combat Press between September 2014 and July 2021.

Marcus, a Jamaican Canadian, was a troublesome child but excelled in sports.

He was charged with assault and expelled from school for fighting at the age of fifteen.

After moving to a new school, he discovered Ajahn Suchart Yodkerepauprai's Siam No.1 Muay Thai gym nearby and promptly began training there.

He would then give up on Muay Thai for two years, however, as he pursued basketball and served three months in a youth detention center.

Upon being released from detainment, he returned to the gym with the goal of making it as a professional fighter.

Marcus took up Muay Thai at sixteen and achieved success as an amateur initially by medaling at three international tournaments as well as capturing the North American Cruiserweight Championship.