Eddie Alvarez disqualification loss at ONE on TNT overturned to no-contest

Eddie Alvarez | ONE Championship

Eddie Alvarez’s recent disqualification loss to Iuri Lapicus is no more.

MMA Fighting confirmed with ONE Championship officials that Alvarez’s DQ from his lightweight bout opposite Lapicus at the April 7 ONE on TNT event has been overturned to a no-contest.

The decision was unanimously made by a panel of 15 independent officials, as well as ONE personnel, judges, and referees, who determined that referee Justin Brown made “a procedural misstep” in disqualifying Alvarez rather than first issuing a warning for illegal blows to the back of the head.

ONE’s decision to change the result was first reported by ESPN. The promotion later sent out a release, which included the following statement:

The panel advised that the bout should have been halted and a warning issued after the second strike to the back of the head. Due to the procedural misstep, Alvarez’s red card has been retracted, with a yellow card issued in its place.

Additionally, a medical review validated the serious nature of the injury and Lapicus’ inability to continue in the fight. The no-contest ruling was made in fairness to all parties.

Alvarez was initially given a red card signalling a DQ under ONE rules after it was deemed by Brown that Alvarez landed multiple punches to the back of the head during a ground-and-pound sequence in the first round.

Should Eddie Alvarez have been DQ'd for this? @Ealvarezfight @tntdrama #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONEonTNT pic.twitter.com/pdNYqaOfeJ

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 8, 2021

The official time of the stoppage was 1:02 into round one.

That same evening, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong said that in an initial review of the footage it appeared that Alvarez had landed “four or five illegal blows.” Alvarez immediately called for the result to be overturned, and veteran referee John McCarthy later weighed in adding that he felt Brown needed to be more responsible with his handling of the red card.

ONE on TNT took place in Singapore, where ONE serves as the regulator for its own events.

With the result being changed, Alvarez’s record is now 30-7 (2 NC) while Lapicus’ is 14-1 (1 NC). Alvarez already has his next assignment, he fights Rae Yoon Ok in the co-main event of ONE on TNT 4 this Wednesday.