Petchyindee withdraws from Kickboxing Grand Prix amid controversy

Petchmorrakot Petchyindee withdraws from ONE Championship Featherweight Kickboxing Grand Prix following fight controversy which saw his win over Giorgio Petrosyan overturned.

On Wednesday ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that Petchmorrakot Petchyinde’s split decision win over Giorgio Petrosyan at ONE: Enter the Dragon was being overturned due to “The referee [who] did not adequately control the illegal clinching, resulting in multiple infractions during the bout.” The promotion announced an immediate rematch so that the winner could be declared and advance to the semi-finals of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix which will award a $1 million (US) prize.

Not shocking was Petchmorrakot Petchyinde’s response (given via his manager, Boat Yindee) in regards to the decision.

Keep in mind this is written in English which does not appear to be Yindee’s first language.

"“Petchyindee’s boss [Boat Yindee] announcement about ONE conducted an official review of Petchmorakot and Petrosyan bout to be no contest. There will be an automatic rematch with the winner proceeding into the semifinals of ONE Featherweight World Grand Prix.I apology to disappointed all the Thai fans from ONE Championship board’s decision that wants us to do the rematch with Giorgio Petrosyan with the reason that we broke the clinching rule.We all dedicated to this fight. Do everything we can, despite knowing that we are all inferior to him with the rules of kickboxing; do not use elbow and limit of knee. But we chose to fight because we want win this challenge. I want to repeat that we didn’t choose to fight because of 32 million baht; because no one knows how much money this tournament will have until 3 days before press conference. The only reasons that I decided to join this tournament because I like challenging and wanted to make Thai people proud. Petrosyan has almost hundred times of experience, but Petchmorakot only fought once with this rules.However, we still fight without any negotiation. We agreed to fight the best kick-boxer in spite of subsidiary in everything.I feel very pity to Petchmorakot, he really do everything for this victory. Practice so hard for 2 months, ran almost 40 kilometers from Suvanbhumi Airport to Royal monument King Chulalongkorn as a promised if he win. Tomorrow he will ordain into the Buddhist monkhood in hoping of this victory. Do everything as good as one person can do to prove himself to the world to see.We believe that all is not our fault. The problem is that the One Championship kickboxing rules are unclear, and the previous fight decision has ended.So we should get into the semifinals according to the right to deserve.But when the board of directors resolved to pass the fight with no contest and must rematch immediately, despite all that is not our fault.I am as the representative of the Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy request to withdraw from World Grand Prix, because even if we agree to rematch and this happen again, Petrosyan’s fans will not accept the decision and there’s do way to win.Thank you for all your encouragement and apologies again, causing all Thai people to be disappointed."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxM0LthY-e/

It appears as though Petchyinde is not interested in a rematch, even if it means he’ll miss out on the chance at the huge prize.

His opponent also took to Instagram to express his gratitude at the decision.

“This morning I’ve been woke up by a call,” he wrote on Instagram. “This was Chatri Sityodtong. He announced me my last fight Has been reviewed . I knew from the beginning [ONE Championship] is a promotion of valors and I chose to fight for it because it is run by a man of principles and ethics. Now all the world knows it. Thank you Chatri thank you ONE Championship to make justice. I am back, I am on the run now.”

We’ll have to wait and see if the rematch happens or if Petchyinde’s withdraw would mean Petrosyan would be the one to advance.

ONE: Enter the Dragon took place on May 17 from Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your ONE Championship results and highlights.