WHEN Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon defend their world lightweight and bantamweight title in One Championship this weekend, expect fireworks.
Folayang of the famed Baguio City based Team Lakay defends his title for the first time year with a rematch against former world champion Shinya Aoki on March 31 in Tokyo, Japan dubbed ONE: A New Era.
In one of three co-main events, ONE women’s atomweight world champion Angela Lee moves up in weight in a quest to become the first ever female two-division mixed martial arts world champion against Chinese powerhouse Xiong Jing Nan, the reigning women’s strawweight world champion.
In addition, two-division ONE World Champion Aung La N Sang will defend his middleweight strap against Japanese contender Ken Hasegawa in an epic rematch of their 2018 Bout of the Year.
Belingon, the other half of Team Lakay champion faces Bibiano Fernandes for the third time to decide once and for all who the best bantamweight on the planet.
“I am well-prepared for this bout. I am so happy to be here in Japan for this historic event. I know Shinya (Aoki) has prepared well also and I am expecting the very best from him. This rematch is three years in the making. It’s an honor to face Shinya again. I believe this event is going to be explosive. History will be made,” said Folayang.
Aoki meanwhile is focused on reclaiming the title he lost to Folayang in 2016 via a third round technical knockout.
“I am laser focused for this coming match. I’ve trained very hard for my opponent. This Sunday night, I am confident I can achieve victory and become World Champion once again,” he said.
Belingon, on the other hand, said he sees and advantage with his familiarity against Fernandes as they square off for the third time.
“I’ve trained very hard and fans will be happy with my performance. Looking back at our previous encounters, I know my opponent well now. I think he knows who I am also. I’m looking forward to putting on another show and hopefully get the knockout,” Belingon vowed.
Fernandes while acknowledging Belingon’s talent, swear to reclaim the strap he lost last year in an epic five round encounter.
“In this third fight, I’m going to take the belt back. I’m going to prove to everyone that I’m still the best in the world and start a new reign as world champion,” Fernandes added.
Danny Kingad completes the trio for Team Lakay in the Japan fight card with Senzo Ikeda in a flyweight world grand prix quarter finals as a late replacement for Andrew Leone.
Also in the fight card is former UFC lightweight champion taking on Timofey Nastyukin in a lightweight world grand prix quarter-final and former MMA pound for pound and UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson against Yuya Wakamatsu in the other flyweight world grand prix quarter final.