ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong has ordered a formal review of the controversial ONE Championship Women’s Atomweight Grand Prix quarterfinal showdown between Filipino fighter Denice Zamboanga and South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham.
“The fight between Denice Zamboanga and Seo Hee Ham is under formal review by the competition committee,” Sityodong said in his social media post after the result, questionably won by Ham, drew negative reactions from netizens.
Seo won the controversial bout by split decision, despite Zamboanga being the aggressor and showing superior grappling skills in their ladder-format encounter at the ONE Championship: Empower card last Sept. 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.
The chairman and CEO of Asia’s top Mixed Martial Arts organization believes that the Filipina should have been awarded a close decision win against the Korean.
“I thought Denice Zamboanga (8-1) edged out Seo Hee Ham (24-8) for the victory in a super close fight. While I disagree with the judges on this one, I can understand why they scored the bout for Ham. It was a very close fight with Ham landing the cleaner, heavier punches with damage and Denice controlling the cage work, takedowns, and ground action.”
Pundits were anticipating a Zamboanga-Angela Lee world title fight after the Filipina called the Singaporean out in an ensuing exchange of harsh words on social media.
On Friday night, however, Zamboanga lost by split decision to Seo in a bout that was part of the ONE Grand Prix series aiming to determine the contender against Lee for ONE Championship world women’s atomweight crown.
But many had thought it should have been a close unanimous decision for the Filipina fighter.
Zamboanga, who stayed and trained in Thailand since the pandemic lockdown last year, insisted that she won that fight. “I stand by my position, and I still believe I won that fight.” Randy Caluag
“I fully respect the judges’ decision. But I know I won that fight last Friday night. I respectfully request ONE to review the result, for the sake of the integrity of the Grand Prix.”
“I was in complete control every step of the way. I outwrestled her, outgrappled her, took her down, and beat on her. I made her miss and punished her with sharp counters all night. Although she was able to sneak in a couple of good left hands, and her goal to knockout me. I don’t think it was enough to get the decision.”
The South Korean, however, was also adamant about her victory, even advising those who opposed the decision to study the ONE Championship rules.
“In my opinion, Denice should go study the ONE Championship rule first. If the fans study more about ONE Championship, they might feel the same way as me,” she added.