RIDING on a five-fight winning streak, Kevin Belingon attempts to take home with him the interim bantamweight crown in front of a hometown crowd as he takes on ONE featherweight and lightweight champion Martin Nguyen tomorrow night in the main event of ONE Championship - “Reign of Kings” in the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.
Since losing his first title shot against Bibiano Fernandes two years ago, the 30-year-old Belingon has been impressive, winning his next five contests against Muin Gafurov, Toni Tauru, Reece McLaren, Kevin Chung and Andrew Leon.
The 29-year-old Nguyen, on the other hand, is coming off a split decision over Christian Lee in a rematch after losing to Fernandes in a bantamweight title fight.
Belingon of the dreaded Team Lakay is 18-5, while Nguyen is 11-2.
In the co-main feature, Japanese legend Shinya Aoki (40-8) locks horns with Thai Shanon Wratchai (9-2), while MMA great Renzo Gracie (13-7-1) returns to action after eight years against Japanese veteran Yuki Kondo (59-34-9) in another featured fight.
Three other Filipinos are seeing action in the same card - former lightweight titleholder Eduard Folayang, Joshua Pacio and Rene Catalan.
Folayang (19-6) takes on unbeaten Aziz Pakhrudinov (17-0-1), Pacio (14-2) slugs it out with Pongsiri Mitsatit (9-0) and Catalan (4-2) faces off with Stefer Rahardian (8-0).
Also in the card, Garry Tonon (1-0) is up against Rahul Raju (5-2) and Sor Sey (4-2) squares off with Xie Bin (4-1). (EKA)