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Supergirl’s arm is raised after winning a controversial split decision against Ekaterina Vandaryeva (right) at ONE: Heavy Hitters. Photos: David Ash/ONE Championship

Exclusive | ONE Championship will no longer conduct fight reviews, with competition committee disbanded, as Supergirl and Ekaterina Vandaryeva agree immediate rematch

  • Controversial ONE: Heavy Hitters split decision in Singapore won’t be sent for review, the Post understands
  • ‘I’m not a judge, but I know Muay Thai … Ekaterina easily won that fight, it was not even close,’ ONE boss Chatri says

ONE Championship will no longer conduct reviews of controversial fight results, a source has told the Post, with the Asian martial arts promotion’s competition committee disbanded.

Two high-profile fights went to review in 2021, with the committee – made up of 14 internal and external ONE officials, experts, former athletes and judges – voting to uphold Ham Seo-hee’s split decision victory over Denice Zamboanga, and Ok Rae-yoon’s lightweight title win against Christian Lee.

The possibility of another review arose on Friday night in Singapore, when Ekaterina Vandaryeva suffered a split decision loss to Supergirl at ONE: Heavy Hitters.

The result was criticised by fans, as well as the organisation’s chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong – who still awarded Vandaryeva one of three US$50,000 performance bonuses on the night, despite her loss.

“Ekaterina easily won that fight, it was not even close,” Chatri told reporters in a post-event interview. “I just don’t know what the judges were seeing, what they were judging. She was one punch, one kick away from finishing Supergirl.

“I was super impressed. I just don’t see how she lost that fight, but I’m not a judge. We try to work with the best judges, but I know Muay Thai, and Ekaterina won that fight.”

Chatri called for an immediate rematch between the Belorussian “Barbie” and Thailand’s 18-year-old Supergirl, and the Post understands both sides have agreed to run it back.

The decision to no longer review controversial fight results was taken at the end of 2021, with the new policy effective from 2022, a source said, starting with Friday’s Heavy Hitters event, which was ONE’s first show of the new year.

Ekaterina Vandaryeva punches Supergirl at ONE: Heavy Hitters.

Referee Olivier Coste looked close to waiving off the fight in the second round, after a Vandaryeva flurry left Supergirl’s face battered and bruised, with a large haematoma forming on her forehead.

The cageside doctor took a long look at the Thai’s facial injuries before allowing her to continue in the third round, where she appeared to mount a decisive comeback in two of the three judges’ eyes.

Supergirl did not speak to the media after her fight, leaving the Singapore Indoor Stadium and going straight to hospital.

Ekaterina Vandaryeva (right) congratulates Supergirl.

“When you’re fighting, you have to get hurt,” Supergirl said in a post-fight interview with commentator Mitch Chilson inside the ONE Circle.

Vandaryeva, who lost a majority decision to Filipino-American Jackie Buntan last April, was left bemused when asked about the decision in her own interview.

“You shouldn’t be asking me,” Vandaryeva said. “You should be asking the judges. I did more hits, more kicks, and they were more accurate. I don’t know what else I have to do to win here.”

 

Supergirl took to Instagram on Saturday to apologise to her fans.

“I got the W last night but the performance was so bad for me,” she wrote. “Due to covid and school stuff i haven’t fought for 1 year and 4 months till last night. It wasn’t my best performance but I did try my best at that time and keep forward for the whole fight.

“And I’m truly sorry that the results by the judges made you guys not happy with that. I fought and let the judges did their job. That’s out of my control. Sorry about that again.

“And congratulations to my opponent who won the bonus last night. You’re the best!”

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