By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Lito Adiwang and his camp still can’t believe the split-decision loss against Hiroba Minowa during ONE: Inside the Matrix III in Singapore.
The Team Lakay star thought he already caught Minowa in the first round with a kimura lock but ONE referee Mohamad Sulaiman continued with the fight and did not call any submission tap.
In the replay shown by ONE, it was seen that Minowa was executing a tapping motion with his hand but nothing was called.
“Kung iche-check natin yung position niya, na-trap yung kamay niya sa crotch ko. So parang nagbigay ako ng opening for him para makuha niya yung right hand niya para maka-tap. And then nung nag-turn na kami, hindi ko na napansin. Sa video ko na lang nakita, kasi noong nasa fight tayo, ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. But I know deep inside na yung first position natin is pasok na pasok yun,” explained Adiwang.
However, the ONE officiating management went with the final decision that Adiwang lost via split decision that saw his seven-match winning streak end.
“Parang hindi rin matahimik yung mga viewers and fans natin. I know in his side parang naging 50-percent din yung victory niya kasi maraming tayong mga supporters na nagsasabi na nakuha sana natin yung panalo kasi nag-tap siya. So I think the best way to close this is one more round, let’s have a rematch,” Adiwang added.
With Adiwang expressing his desire for a rematch, Minowa’s camp is yet to release a statement if they are agreeable to another showdown.
