MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Brandon Vera and Chi Lewis Parry, bracing for the ONE Championship showdown at the MOA Arena tomorrow, instead clashed in social media after the keenly awaited duel failed to push through.
This after Vera, a former fighter in the top mixed martial arts outfit Ultimate Fighting Championship, lashed out at Parry on the former’s Facebook page.
“You asked for the fight. You begged for the fight. You got the fight. Then you decided to miss the first press conference, and not show up for your flight. Then you decided not to show your medical records or send your medical records in. Then, once at the airport tonight to pick you up…woah, you didn’t get on your flight again,” said Vera (13-7).
Vera will instead take on Paul Cheng (5-1) for the heavyweight title in “ONE Championship 35: Spirit of Champions” set at the MOA Arena tomorrow.
This came about after ONE chief Victor Cui announced Parry failed to submit his medical and drug test results and didn’t show up on his flight from London, England.
“After multiple requests made by ONE officials directly to Chi Lewis Parry and his manager the last few weeks, Chi has failed to submit his medical results and his drug tests for tomorrow’s fight,” Cui posted on his Facebook page.
“Additionally, he decided not to board the plane departing from London to Manila. He will not be fighting this Friday,” he added.
But Lewis-Parry blamed Cui for the last-minute decision to drop him from the ONE roster.
“Dear world. As I forewarned, One Championship have ripped my shot from my grasp. They pretended Paul Cheng was travelling to Manila JUST for media obligations and lied to EVERY SINGLE FAN! Now they have made up their excuse (which has taken them days to form) and are blaming me with bogus accusations,” said Lewis-Parry on his FB page.
“It’s disgusting that an organization claiming to be one of the top competitors in the world are happy to pull stunts like this. REMEMBER, I CALLED THIS DAYS AGO! ONE failed to respond with the truth now they blame me,” he added.
Lewis-Parry said he is contemplating on seeking legal remedies.
“Legal action is to follow and the exploitation and misrepresentation of fighter/athletes will STOP @ One Championship for good! I’m sorry for the fans that have been lied to by Victor Cui and One,” he said.