Lakay Belingon steps up in One FC fight

FOLLOWING his huge knock-out victory the last time out, Ifugao fighting pride Kevin Belingon is set to return in Asia’s largest gathering of mix martial arts (MMA) fighter at One Fighting Championship (One FC) slated April 5 in Singapore.

Belingon will face Vietnamese-Australian Thanh Vu for the One FC Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-final fights that will be featured in the fight card of the night dubbed ‘Kings & Champions’ with Former Lightweight World Champion from the United States, Jens Pulver taking on Japan’s Masakatsu Ueda.

“One FC Kings and Champions is the biggest event in ONE FC history and will feature four of the world’s best Bantamweights fighting for a shot at the Bantamweight World Championship title,” One FC CEO Victor Cui stated.

Cui added it is a must-see for MMA fans because when these four champions enter the ONE FC cage, nothing will matter more to them than making it into the finals of the Grand Prix.

Considered as one of the most dangerous strikers, the current URCC Flyweight Champion, Belingon sets a fearsome pace and can either shoot for takedowns to rough opponents up with ground-and-pound or keep it standing and pick them apart with his pinpoint precision striking.

Belingon was incredibly enthusiastic about representing Pinoy warriors in the inaugural ONE FC Bantamweight Grand Prix because, as he puts it, there is no better feeling than fighting for Filipino pride.

Thanh Vu is a Vietnamese-Australian Bantamweight who is already rated as one of the best prospects in his weight class in Australia, where he currently competes.

A decorated grappler who has placed in the Grappler’s Realm Australia and Events BJJ tournaments Vu is looking forward to represent Vietnam in competitive action on the largest stage in Asian MMA.

He made quick work of his opponent in the Final Elimination Bout in February and will look to do the same again in April.

The Pulver-Ueda match-up will also be a match up to watch with the American being a former lightweight world champion whose career has seen him compete for the top promotions in the history of MMA, the UFC, PRIDE and One FC.

Ueda meanwhile is the former undisputed Shooto Featherweight Champion, a title he successfully defended three times with an outstanding 16-2-2 record and is a widely regarded as one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world. (Roderick Osis)