Now that he can talk about ONE: Inside The Matrix, Lito Adiwang did not hide his disgust about the loss he suffered at the hands of Hiroshi Minowa during the third installment of the Singapore series.
Apparently, Minowa had tapped in the first round, which referee Mohamad Sulaiman did not see.
“Honestly talaga, yung first na nakuha ko yung position, parang na-trap ko siya,” recalled the erstwhile-fifth ranked strawweight Adiwang, who saw his seven-fight winning streak snapped by way of split decision.
“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.”
The native of Baguio City dominated the early-goings of the three-round affair, as he had his way with Minowa on the ground.
Taking a dominant position, Adiwang was able to lock a tight kimura on Minowa’s right arm. At that moment, replays showed that Minowa tapped using his left hand — but both Adiwang’s body and the ONE Circle blocked the view.
Minowa was able to escape the hold later on. And when he recovered, the Japanese grappler was able to take down Adiwang with ease in the next two rounds to steal the match.
“Looking forward in the big picture, parang positive thing din itong nangyari sa akin kasi alam natin na ang daming nangyari due to pandemic, pero gagawin nating parang learning experience ito to be better,” he said.
“Best time ito na nangyari sa akin, to check myself now kaysa naman later pag nandoon na tayo on top. So it’s better to correct our mistakes now and improve para hindi na ito maulit next time.”
“It is better to correct mistakes now rather than later para hindi na maulit.”
Adiwang is now begging ONE Chairman Chatri Sityodtong for one thing — a chance to right the wrong against Minowa.
“I’m asking a rematch para i-close natin ito.”
