ONE chairman predicts quick end to Belingon-Fernandes match

Filipino fighter Kevin Belingon (right) goes up against ONE bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes (left) of Brazil on November 9. Photo: ONE

SINGAPORE — ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodyong is predicting an early finish when ONE interim bantamweight title holder Kevin Belingon takes on ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes in the main event of ONE: Heart of the Lion on November 9 at Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

"I think it's going to be a very explosive fight, I think it's going to end very quickly. Probably in the second or the third round I predict," said Sityodtong.

"Kevin Belingon has improved so much, but Bibiano is a legendary champion and one of the greatest mixed martial artists to come out of Brazil. It's going to be an all-out war."

Fernandes first met the renowned Filipino striker in 2016 when he submitted the latter via kimura in the first round. Belingon has since made his way back to the top, having impressively won his past six fights against top-tier competition.

According to Sityodtong, the upcoming showdown between the two champions would only end either by knockout or by submission.

"Kevin better have great submission defense while Bibiano better have great striking defense," Sityodtong quipped.

"Both athletes are very well-rounded now, but I predict second or third round either Bibiano is going to get knocked out or Kevin is going to get submitted. This is a 50-50 fight; it's very hard for me to tell." — BM, GMA News