ONE Championship’s world bantamweight unification match promises to be one for the books.
Although it took years before both reigning bantamweight titlist Bibiano Fernandes and interim title holder Kevin Belingon face each other again for a unification match, both fighters promise fireworks in the main event of ONE: Heart of a Lion in Singapore Friday, November 9.
Belingon of the famed Team Lakay hopes to ride on the success of his team in winning rematches against highly touted mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in capturing two titles this year.
“I trained very hard for the match this coming Friday. I’ve waited for a long time to face Bibiano Fernandes again. I am 100 percent ready and confident. I will do my best to win this time. Be there to support us on November 9,” the Kiangan, Ifugao native beams during press conference in Singapore.
After joining ONE Championship in 2012, Belingon put together a series of tremendous performances, including several highlight-reel finishes, to earn a shot at ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes in early 2016.
Although Belingon failed to capture the title, he has since been on a warpath back to world title contention, putting together a sensational win streak which includes huge knockout wins over several former world title challengers. In his most recent outing, Belingon scored one of the biggest wins of his career, defeating two-division ONE world champion Martin Nguyen.
But Fernandes remains the heavy favorite in the highly anticipated match–up who is widely considered one of the best martial artists in the world. He made his ONE Championship debut back in 2012 and captured the bantamweight world title in 2013.
Since then, Fernandes has remained unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage, showcasing tremendous striking and grappling ability and an unwavering will to win.
“It has always been a pleasure to be here in Singapore. This is where I unified the titles in 2013. I will get a chance to do it again in a rematch with a tough opponent in Kevin Belingon. I fought him in the past. I finished him before, and I will finish him again. I am ready for the war on Friday, and I am prepared to do my best,” Fernandes quipped.
Also in attendance during the kickoff press conference at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore were co-main event participants Christian Lee of Singapore and Kazuki Tokudome of Japan, as well as newly-signed ONE Championship athletes Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez.
In addition, ONE Championship also announced a World Grand Prix for the flyweight and lightweight divisions.