Ok Rae Yoon Downplays Apparent Surprise at ONE: Revolution Win

After a controversial result at ONE: Revolution in Singapore on Friday, South Korea’s Ok Rae Yoon wanted to clarify a few things.

For one, the newly crowned lightweight champ made it clear that he feels he did enough to claim victory in his title fight with Christian Lee. As as for reports that he looked “surprised” when the result was read out, that simply was not the case.

“I just want to clear one thing up. People around me, or the media, I’ve seen some comments saying that people thought that I was surprised with the decision, but actually I wasn’t,” he told Cageside Press during Friday’s post-fight press conference. “My corner knew I won, and my corner was telling me that I won, and I knew that I clearly won. It was just that I still couldn’t see out of my left eye, so I was just so focused on there, I wasn’t focused on my name being called as a new champion, because I was just so focused on my eye. So when I heard my name, it was just my reaction, but I knew the decision was a clear victory for me.”

Ok, who improved to 16-3 with the win, took damage to his eye early in the fight. Damage that was clearly visible when all was said and done. He was dropped partway through the five round affair, then rocked and put on skates in the fifth frame. Still, the judges awarded the South Korean a unanimous decision victory.

Many of those watching disagreed. As did Ok Rae Yoon’s opponent. The newly dethroned Christian Lee insisted he’d done enough to win the fight after the event, calling for ONE Championship to review and overturn the result. It’s likely the request will at least be considered, as ONE’s Competition Committee has reviewed similar decisions in the past.

Not surprisingly, Ok feels the now former champ should accept the result. “As a fighter, I believe it’s our job to fight and compete, but it’s the judges’ job to give the decision. And the decision was on my favor unanimously,” he said, asked about Lee’s plan to appeal. “So I believe Christian Lee should as a champion and as a fighter admit to the decision.”

Even had Lee been awarded the win Friday, Ok doesn’t believe his opponent could possibly have been happy with his performance. “Because I believe I won, and he believes he won,” Ok explained. “I think it was a close fight. None of us will be happy with our performances, because of course we want to win more dominantly. If Christian Lee wanted to win and wanted to defend this belt, I think he should have dominated me more. I think the best thing he can do is accept this defeat and ask for a rematch, because I’m game any time for the rematch.”

When that comes remains to be seen. ONE Championship has a big card approaching with December’s ONE X, its anniversary show. But Ok needs to get his eye checked out, and heal up for other damage incurred during the fight.

“As much as possible, this will be my first title defense, so I would like to do it on perfect timing where I know I can prepare fully for my next fight,” he stated, before reiterating his willingness to face Lee again. “I believe Christian Lee is in a spot where he deserves a rematch, so whenever we’re ready, I’m always down for the rematch.”

Watch Ok Rae Yoon’s full ONE: Revolution post-fight media appearance above. More coverage from the event is available below.