Belingon, respetado si Fernandes

SA ikatlong pagkakataon, muling magsasangga ang landas nina reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon at Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes sa ONE: A New Era sa Ryōgoku Kokugikan sa Marso 31.

Unang nakaharap ng “The Silencer” ang pamosong Brazilian fighter noong January 2016, ngunit kabiguan ang kanyang nakamit. Mula rito, anim na sunod na panalo angnaitala ng Team Lakay mainstay at sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay nagawa niyang magtagumpay.

Naagaw ni Belingon ang ONE Bantamweight world title kay Fernandes.

“It feels good to be on such a nice little win streak. It just goes to show that my hard work and long hours at the gym is paying off. That’s all we really want out of training, is for the hard work to show,” pahjayag ni Belingon.

“I feel as confident now as I have ever been. Heading into my next bout, a trilogy bout against Bibiano [Fernandes], this is super important. I have to be at my best in this next bout.”

Sa ikatlong pagkakataon, inamin ni Belingon na hindi siya kampante higit at respetado niya ang husay ng karibal.

“I have all the respect in the world for Bibiano,” sambit ni Belingon.

“He is a tremendous athlete and he has all the skills to prove just that. He is also an amazing strategist and very smart in the cage. He’s a veteran and it is very hard to deal with that experience. He put up a great performance last time and made it difficult for me to get any sort of advantage.”