ONE Championship's Review System Might Stick For Good After Alvarez DQ Overturned

In a positive development for the Singapore-based mixed martial arts promotion, ONE Championship is leaning towards regularly implementing a replay review system of bouts.

The news comes after former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez's disqualification against Iuri Lapicus was overturned to a "No Contest."

The two met on the main card of "ONE on TNT I" earlier this month, and Alvarez was initially given a red card for illegal strikes to the back of Lapicus' head.

It was an anti-climactic return for Alvarez, who worked his way back following an injury that forced him out of the cage last year.

But an appeal by the 37-year-old American pushed ONE Championship into looking further into the fight and eventually changing the ruling into a no contest.

ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong stressed that in Alvarez's case, the referee "missed one of the key steps in issuing a warning or a yellow card."

Sityodtong also answered "yes" when asked whether the review system will be used for future contests.

"I am blessed. I feel happy they considered my appeal. They sat down and took it seriously the same way I take my career very seriously," Alvarez said on Monday evening's virtual press conference, expressing elation towards the organization's actions.

"I can tell I was confident it shouldn't have been a disqualification. [Now] I am relieved," Alvarez added, noting that he had hoped the panel listened to the views of "professionals, referees, and people respected in the game."

Such implementation of a system will be beneficial for the promotion to avoid further controversial outcomes.

In March 2019, then-Filipino bantamweight titlist Kevin Belingon saw his reign abruptly end against Brazilian rival Bibiano Fernandes in Tokyo, Japan.

"It's important that we can sit back and reassess and say, 'Alright, maybe there was a little mess-up here,'" Alvarez shared.

Belingon was given a red card for connecting an elbow to the back of Fernandes' head, resulting in a third-round disqualification for what was then a trilogy between two proud warriors.

Fernandes himself seemingly refused to accept the title belt during his announcement as the winner as he felt confused and undeserving of the win.

Back then, ONE Championship did not conduct a thorough review of the championship clash. As a compromise, Belingon was just offered a fourth meeting, which happened in October of the same year.

The Brazilian submission specialist won decisively, submitting Belingon midway in the second round with a rear-naked choke.

As for Alvarez, his focus is on a bounce-back battle against Ok Rae Yoon at "ONE on TNT IV" this Wednesday, April 28.

READ ALSO: Aoki Hails Longtime Rival As 'Great Fighter,' Not Complacent As Trilogy Closes