January 23 marks the culmination of a nine year odyssey for Team Lakay’s Kevin Belingon.
Standing at just 5’5 and just hitting his prime, Belingon takes on his biggest and toughest opponent, world ranked bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes, for the ONE World Bantamweight Championship.
Belingon’s prize fighting career started with the local promotion URCC. With the promotion, “The Silencer” compiled a 9-0 record with five wins coming by way of finishes. The upstart became one of the brightest prospects in the local mixed martial arts scene just four years in his career.
Then ONE Championship came calling. Just an upstart promotion during that time, the Singapore-based promotion signed all the top mixed martial arts stars and prospects from various Asian countries and brought them under one roof. Together with Belingon, fellow Lakay brothers Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario were also signed by the promotion.
His ONE Championship campaign has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least. He’s had spectacular wins as well as heartbreaking setbacks, but what’s consistent with the 28-year old’s performances is his desire for all-out action from start to finish.
Belingon’s first round annihilation of Russian wrestler Yusup Saadulaev in 2012 left fans on the edge of their seats while his second round demolition job on Australia’s Thanh Vu in a bout immediately after left a lasting impression. In his shining moment, the Baguio-native knocked-off previously unbeaten David Aranda Santacana to the mat with one perfectly placed hook in front of a rabid Manila crowd.
Saturday night, The Silencer cannot afford to make a single mistake against Bibiano Fernandes. Fernandes is a known-killer inside the cage and is one of the greatest grapplers in mixed martial arts today.
Sacrificing the holidays in training and reviewing the movement of the Brazilian, Belingon knows where his advantage will be in saying, “I know where I can catch Fernandes and that’s in the striking department.”
“[Fernandes] has a great ground game, but I’m working on my takedown defense and I’ll look to hit him with something he won’t see coming.”
The Filipino admitted that he looks up to Fernandes and respects what his opponent has accomplished in an account by ONE Championship. However, with all the marbles on the line, the Team Lakay fighter is planning to throw that out of the window to achieve his destiny. “I respect Bibiano Fernandes a lot, he’s a great champion, but this opportunity is rare and I plan to make the most of it,” said Belingon. “I’m coming with everything and I will emerge victorious.”
Dynasty of Champions is the perfect name for an event like this. The 28 year old Wushu practitioner believes that his dynasty is set to begin in Changsha, China as he plans on making believers out of the skeptics and making the improbable possible.
“There will be no excuses on fight night. By the fight’s end, my hand will be raised and I will be champion.”
Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon is set to face the reigning ONE World Bantamweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes on Saturday, January 23 in Helong Stadium in Changsha, China. In the undercard is compatriot Roy Doliguez faced Japanese fighter Asuka Mikami in flyweight action.
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Photo and excerpts from ONE Championship’s releases
