Belingon, uukit ng marka para sa PH
KUNG personal ang hangarin ni Martin Nguyen sa asam na maging unang fighter na magwagi ng three-division world championship, para sa bayan ang laban ni Kevin Belingon sa ilalargang ONE Championship.
Tampok sa fight card ang labanan nina Nguyen at Belingon sa ONE: REIGN OF KINGS sa 20,000seater MOA Arena sa Hulyo 27.
Nakataya ang ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship sa five-round duel nina Belingon at Nguyen.
Sakaling manaig, maseselyuhan ni Belingon ang kasaysayan sa Pilipinas bilang tanging bansa na may pinakamaraming championship sa pitong taong kasaysayan ng premyadong mixed martial arts promotion sa bansa.
“The main goal for Filipino martial arts athletes like me is to bring pride, honor and glory to our country. This match against Marin Nguyen on July 27 is another opportunity to hoist the Philippine flag aloft on the world stage of this beautiful sport,” pahayag ni Belingon.
Sa kasalukuyan, apay na Pinoy fighter ang naginbg kampeon sa ONE mula nang itatag ang promosyon noon 2013.
Tinanghal na unang Pinoy na naging kampeon sa ONE si Honorio Banario nang gapiin ang kababayan na si Eric Kelly via fourth-round stoppage sa inaugural ONE Featherweight World Championship noong February 2013.
Sinundan ito ni Brandon Vera, tinanghal na unang ONE Heavyweight World Champion, matapos pabagsakin si Paul Cheng sa record 26 segundo noong December 2015.
Nakamit naman ni Eduard Folayang ang ONE Lightweight World Championship nang gapiin ang liyamadong si Japanese legend Shinya Aoki noong November 2016.
Sumama sa listahan si Geje Eustaquio nang makamit ang ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship via split decision kontra Kairat Akhmetov sa rematch bago naging undisputed division kingpin laban kay Adriano Moraes nitong Hunyo.
Ngayon, pagkakataon para kay Belingon.
Matapos matalo kay Bibiano Fernandes sa bantamweight crown noong January 2016, naitala ni Belingon ang limang sunod na panalo laban sa pinakamatitibay na karibal sa kanyang dibisyon.
“Becoming the champion has been my goal since my career started. It is a lifelong dream for me. I need to win my next bout to turn my dream into a reality,” sambit ni Belingon.
“This is going to be a very exciting match. To take on an elite athlete like Martin, it will only be good for my experience. I look forward to testing my skills against him,” aniya.
“Martin has very good, highlevel skills. His wrestling is very strong, and so is his boxing. He is aggressive, and he punches with power. There is no underestimating this guy. But I think his biggest weakness is his speed, especially in this fight. He is not faster than me. I think this will come down to who gets there first,” aniya.
“I am training very hard to make sure I am well- equipped with everything I need to face any situation. If I have the opportunity to finish him, I will not hesitate to grab that chance. But I am prepared for this fight to go full five rounds as well.”