Rizin Fighting Federation atomweight champ Seo Hee Ham has gone public with allegations that a management team has been embezzling money throughout her career.
On Wednesday, Ham posted to her Instagram account an allegation that Hidekatsu Morooka, along with his wife, are accused of embezzling money from her since she started working with them at the beginning of her career. Over the years, she claims that they have siphoned off upwards of $26,000 in her fight earnings. After her big win at Rizin 20 mere days ago, Ham decided it was time to say something.
In a statement, Ham wrote (via translation from electimes.com):
“I moved into Japanese pro MMA league, making my debut in 2007. Hidekatsu Morooka and his wife, Yoon Sik Lee, were my [management team] and I could made a contract for my fight in Japan through them. They’ve treated me like a real daughter, so I respected and followed what they said until 2014. Five years have passed since then, and I started to fight in Japan again. And of course, I got reunited with Hidekatsu Morooka and his wife to work with them.
“But recently I figured out that they’re embezzling my fight money. If the sum involved is small, I will be able to forgive what they do. Because they always says that they received no extra money to make a fight for Korean MMA fighters in Japan and complain about big deficits. So I appreciated their effort, [feel] sorry for them, and didn’t believe the bad rumors about their embezzlement.
“But with recently discovered proof, I have lost all faith in them. They embezzled my fight money twice in 2019, and the total comes out to 30 million Korean Won [roughly $26,000]. I think it’s not just me who got mugged, maybe a lot of Korean MMA fighters got scammed by them.
“I hate to say this, cause I believed and followed them for the last 15 years. But I know that I must step up now, [because] I hope there will be no more innocent victims. Hidekatsu Morooka and his wife are still looking for [an] MMA fighter and making a fight in Japan. There was no contrition and no apology, so I’m very disappointed in their actions. I really want them out in the industry, and urge all the MMA fighters to avoid them.”
Former Road FC queen Ham won the Rizin atomweight strap against former three-time foe Ayaka Hamasaki at Rizin 20 by split verdict. The four-time Ultimate Fighting Championship vet has not lost a fight at atomweight in her career, including her five bouts prior to joining the Las Vegas-based promotion as well as the six following her release. Since receiving her walking papers from the UFC, Ham has scored four knockouts — the first four of her now 31-fight career.
Editor’s note: This item was updated at 8:25 p.m. ET to clarify that Ham’s claim of embezzlement is focused on a management team, and not an MMA promotion.