Kevin Belingon Wants a Knockout Win Against Bibiano Fernandes

After a disqualification loss at ONE: A NEW ERA, a split decision in November last year, and another loss via submission in 2016, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon is looking for a decisive finish in his match against Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and reclaim his glory at ONE: CENTURY on 13 October in Japan.

“It is hard to tell how it will end, but I’m looking for a knockout so that all talks will be settled,” Belingon said. 

“It’s hard to leave this to the judges because there would be doubts there. I have to get that knockout win.”

In the last bout against the 39-year old Brazilian, Belingon was confident he would be able to defend his title with his powerful strikes. Unfortunately, things went south because of an accidental elbow to the back of Bibiano’s head. In the upcoming fourth bout, Belingon is confident that nothing can stop him from taking back his title.

“More than ever, I am familiar with Bibiano – his style, the way he moves. I already know what to expect and what I’ll do in our fourth match,” he said.

“For our game plan, I’m leaving it to coach Mark Sangiao so I can effectively counter his striking and takedowns.”

Belingon believes that he needs to restore order after his Team Lakay teammates lost their titles in their respective divisions. When he enters the Circle again at the Ryogoku Kokugikan

in Tokyo, Japan, he will draw inspiration from Joshua “The Passion” Pacio’s victorious title rematch and use that as his own motivation to succeed.

“This is so important for us. If we get the belt back, I think it will prove that we’re number one in Asia,” said the 31-year-old. 

“I am inspired by Joshua because he got his belt back. Now I have to get mine back and bring it home to Baguio.”

Eduard Folayang Readying Takedown Defense For Grappling Superstar Shinya Aoki

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang will defend his ONE Lightweight World Title against Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at  ONE: A NEW ERA on 31 March.

The rematch between the Filipino striker and the Japanese submission specialist will be held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan where Aoki gets the chance to rematch his tormentor after working his way back up the lightweight ladder with three impressive wins.

It’s a rematch that Folayang has long anticipated.

“I knew at one point or another, I would be facing Shinya [Aoki] again. It was inevitable,” Folayang said.

“He was quickly coming back up and I had just won the title again. Plus, the huge Japan event was announced. I anticipated defending the lightweight belt against him there. “

After learning that he will be defending his title against Aoki, Folayang was happy to show the world his improvements, especially in the grappling aspect of his game. And to be able to do that against a man known as “The Grandmaster of Flying Submissions” would be a testament of the Baguio City native’s hard work.

“Nevertheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to once again face this legend,” Folayang said.

“He’s the greatest submission artist in mixed martial arts history. I couldn’t be happier to headline this event against him. It is an honor.”

Folayang knows for a fact that Aoki is very dangerous when the action hits the mat, so Folayang has been putting in the extra work to fortify his takedown defense to keep the action on the feet.

With an entire nation sitting squarely on his shoulders, Folayang aims to notch what would perhaps be the biggest victory in his career thus far.

“As much as possible, I will not give him the opportunity to bring me down to the mat,” Folayang concluded.

“It all boils down to how well I defend myself from his takedowns, knowing how expertly he moves with this sole purpose in mind. Takedown defense is a very important part of my training right now, and I am constantly improving in this area.”

Kevin Belingon Has Nothing But Respect for Bibiano Fernandes

Reigning and defending ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes will meet for a third time at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on 31 March at ONE: A NEW ERA in a rubber match for Belingon’s bantamweight strap.

“The Silencer” first challenged the Brazilian back in January 2016 for the title, but failed in his bid to capture gold as he was forced to tap in the first round via Kimura. Belingon refused to accept his fate, so he began the long journey back to the top by winning six straight bouts against the promotion’s top contenders.

Belingon’s streak earned him another chance to meet Fernandes in a rematch last November, and this time, his hard work proved enough for him be crowned the undisputed ONE Bantamweight World Champion by a razor thin margin.

“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,” Belingon said.

“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.”

Belingon is not taking this trilogy bout lightly as he clearly recalls how the AMC Pankration representative gave him one of the most unforgettable 25 minutes of his life. This made Belingon respect and acknowledge his opponent even more.

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

“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.”

Belingon is confident he can defend his ONE Bantamweight World Title successfully. This is the result of hard work and sacrifice for the past three years. But “The Silencer” knows all too well that this match will be the toughest of all their encounters so far.

After all, Belingon is about to face a legendary World Champion whom he holds in high regard.

“Everything that I got, I had to work hard for,” Belingon concluded.

“I can see why he is so well-respected and revered. He’s a legendary World Champion after all. But I was able to show him also how much I have improved, which is why I got the victory.”

Three Reasons Why Filipinos Need To Watch ONE: REIGN OF VALOR

ONE Championship will once again make its return to Yangon, Myanmar on Friday, 8 March for
ONE: REIGN OF VALOR at the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

While all of the Filipino champions are scheduled in ONE: A NEW ERA, there are still plenty of reasons for local martial arts from the Philippines to tune-in and enjoy another loaded match card.

Here are just three main reasons why ONE: REIGN OF VALOR is a must-see.

Rene Catalan’s path to desired ONE World Title shot

Rene “The Challenger” Catalan’s amazing run in the talent-filled strawweight division is something that cannot be overlooked anymore.

After losing his first two matches in ONE Championship, Catalan finally found his rhythm and is now riding high on a five-match winning streak.

Standing in his way is former ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito, who undoubtedly poses to be the ultimate test to Catalan’s World Title aspirations.

It will be a classic striker-versus-grappler affair, but Catalan has shown tremendous improvement when it comes to grappling in his previous matches.

At age 40, Catalan shows no signs of slowing down, and if he keeps his pace, then the next Filipino World Champion could very well come from the Catalan Fighting System.

Road to redemption of Jomary Torres

Jomary Torres is an exciting young Filipina who burst into the organization’s stacked women’s atomweight scene with three consecutive victories.

She may be on a slump as of late following consecutive decision losses to Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaul and Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi, but those define does not ultimately define her as a mixed martial arts competitor.

Admittedly struggling to ankle issues in her past bouts, Torres has completed her training camp in tip-top condition and is raring to go back to her winning ways.

Given that her back is against the wall, Torres vows to be aggressive as she cannot afford to lose her third-straight match.

While her opponent in Lin Heqin is known for her willingness to stand and trade, this match has the potential to steal the whole show.

Zebaztian Kadestam’s first ONE World Title defense

Headlining the blockbuster event is knockout artist Zebaztian Kadestam as he defends his ONE Welterweight World Title against surging submission wizard Georgiy Kichigin. With World Title gold on the line, the stakes could not be higher in this classic clash of styles.

Kadestam put everyone on notice when he knocked out erstwhile-unbeaten American Tyler McGuire last November to be crowned as the ONE Welterweight World Champion.

His win over McGuire was Kadestam’s ninth knockout victory, making him one of the most fearsome competitors in the whole organization.

Kichigin, on the other hand, is a grappling wizard who is coming into ONE Championship on 14-match winning streak, with his last victory coming against another submission artist in Rousimar Palhares.

With two world-class talents bannering the card, there is no reason for Filipino martial arts fans to miss this event.

DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON AND EDDIE ALVAREZ LEAD ONE CHAMPIONSHIP LAS VEGAS OPEN WORKOUT

1 March 2019 – Las Vegas, NV: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held a ONE Championship Open Workout at Xtreme Couture MMA Gym in Las Vegas featuring ONE superstar athletes Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, who were accompanied by ONE Championship Vice Presidents and mixed martial arts legends Rich Franklin and Miesha Tate as well as newly-signed ONE Championship athlete Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort.

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson of Kirkland, Washington, United States is a mixed martial artist and 12-time Flyweight World Champion with a professional record of 27-3-1. With a highly-technical style and world-class skills, Johnson has dominated his division for the past seven years. During this span, Johnson captured the flyweight World Title and ran up a win streak of 13 bouts since 2012. Today, he is widely considered one of the best mixed martial artists in the world pound-for-pound. Johnson now looks to continue his legendary career in the world’s largest martial arts organization, ONE Championship.

Demetrious Johnson, ONE Athlete, stated: “I’ve been fighting for a very long time. I’ve been champion for six years. There’s no surprise that he (Yuya Wakamatsu) is going to look through my fights and look through my wins and losses, efficiencies and deficiencies. That’s what athletes do. But a fight is a fight. A lot of people, when I get into the ring or cage with them, the first thing they notice is my speed. I’m going to go out there, fight my butt off, use my heart, my technique, and my skill set, and go out there and take it to him.”

Known as “The Underground King”, multiple-time World Champion Eddie Alvarez of the United States is a mixed martial arts legend who has competed for the world’s top mixed martial arts promotions. The experience he has gathered over a stellar 15-year professional career so far is beyond impressive, with wins over some of the biggest names in the sport. Alvarez’ most notable victories have come against the likes of Roger Huerta, Shinya Aoki, Gilbert Melendez, Anthony Pettis, Rafael Dos Anjos, and most recently Justin Gaethje.

Eddie Alvarez, ONE Athlete, stated: “I’m not going to lie, I do research on my opponents. I’ve done the same for Timofey Nastyukhin. I know he beat Eduard Folayang, he beat Amir Khan, he beat some of the top guys in ONE Championship. He’s dangerous. He hits hard. He comes to fight and I accept the challenge. I want the most vicious, dangerous guys ONE Championship has to offer. I always show up, so I can’t wait.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Demetrious Johnson Expresses Excitement to Be Competing in Japan

American mixed martial arts legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will be competing for the first time outside of the United States for the first time in his career.

Johnson makes his debut at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March where he is set to face Japanese warrior Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in the quarter-final round of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix.

As a kid who grew up watching Japanese mixed martial arts, Johnson is happy to be competing in Tokyo.

“I’ve been watching Japanese mixed martial arts for a very long time and that’s what I grew up watching,” Johnson said.

“I’m very excited because I have never competed overseas before and obviously doing it in Japan is fantastic.”

ONE Championship is making a tremendous push into the Japanese market. And if the card on 31 March is any indication, it looks as if the promotion is pulling out all the stops to ensure this event is a success.

Johnson feels proud to be competing at ONE: A NEW ERA where the heavily-stacked fight card includes four reigning World Champions set to defend their titles.

“I’m excited to be one of the forerunners for Japanese mixed martial arts for ONE Championship in the coming years,” said Johnson.

Johnson may be visiting Tokyo next month to take care of business, but it isn’t the first time he’s been to the Land of the Rising Sun. Johnson has made trips to Japan in the past, but as a sightseer.

“Tokyo, Japan is beautiful it is my third time to visit here,” Johnson said.

“The food is amazing. The wagyu beef is fascinating, and I love it.”

As a 12-time Flyweight World Champion who dominated the Northern America promotions, Johnson is looking forward to showcasing his skills to his fans as well as a new Asian audience. The American is excited to discover how he would fare against Asian athletes.

“The fans can expect to see a complete martial artist who has conquered the North American market and now coming over here,” Johnson said.

“I want to see how much I hang with the Asian athletes.”

Johnson has spent the past few months training back home in preparation for his bout against Wakamatsu. With everything set and ready for his first bout, fans are about to witness a new chapter unfold in Johnson’s career.

“I’m looking forward to be competing with a new set of rules and weight class, fighting with fresh competition,” Johnson concluded.

“It’s a new beginning and a new adventure for me.”

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP COLLABORATES WITH STREETWEAR DESIGNER SBTG TO CREATE LIMITED EDITION APPAREL

Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced a historic collaboration with Mark Ong, an internationally renowned Singaporean designer, artist and owner of custom design company SBTG Surplus & Co.  Mark, better known as Mr. Sabotage (SBTG), grew to fame as a sneaker customizer and custom streetwear artist. With this collaboration, ONE and SBTG have joined forces to celebrate the intersection of sports and culture, and its positive impact on modern society.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is with great excitement that I announce this collaboration between ONE Championship and SBTG. When ONE first launched its athleisure business in 2018, we mentioned working with world-renowned streetwear and lifestyle artists to create unique designs that represent the ONE brand. Mark Ong’s SBTG and ONE Championship, both born and raised in the heart of Singapore, creates the perfect working synergy. With this collaboration, ONE Championship continues to expand the boundaries of a traditional sports property, weaving itself as a thread in the fabric of Asian society.  We hope to inspire not just ONE Championship fans all across the world, but also fans across the art, design, streetwear, sneaker customization, skateboarding, and lifestyle spheres that are defining youth culture.”

Mark Ong, Founder of SBTG Surplus, stated: “ONE Championship celebrates one of Asia’s greatest cultural treasures, martial arts, and its deep-rooted values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline and compassion. Martial Arts has a very deep history, it is a form of Art. Being apart of ONE Championship’s journey means my artwork is being celebrated by ONE, at the same time, ONE is celebrating martial artists and the entire culture around Asia. As a lifelong artist, I identify with the Athletes' work ethic, commitment to their craft, and goal of inspiring the next generation. It is a great honor for me.”

Growing up skateboarding and listening to punk rock, Ong channels a DIY punk ethos with a strong military aesthetic, resulting in different camouflage prints on several of his works. Starting off hand-painting sneakers back in the early 2000’s, Ong sold one of his first customized sneakers and realized he could create a viable career with his unique creations. After building a reputation as one of the best artistic talents in the sneaker customization sphere, Ong started his own streetwear brand, SBTG Surplus. Since then, SBTG has worked with global brands such as Nike, Asics, G-Shock, Arsenal F.C., Paris-Saint German F.C., and attracted the attention of celebrities such as basketball legend Kobe Bryant, two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda, and recognition by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

For this collaboration, SBTG has created a custom iconic camouflage design exclusive to ONE Championship, with the first design expressed on a limited-edition ONE x SBTG Camo T-Shirt, making its debut globally on the 19th of February, available at https://bit.ly/2V26VcU. Future collaborations could feature the camouflage design included in limited edition hoodies, grappling gloves, jiu-jitsu Gi’s, and more.

AVAILABLE GLOBALLY AT SHOP.ONEFC.COM

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About ONE Championship™

ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world's largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia's largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.