MMA: Kevin Belingon’s redemption tour culminates in Manila at ONE FC: Rise to Power

“Mukhang pagod na si Kevin,” whispered a fan. “Oo nga e. Sana kayanin pa niya,” replied the other. It was August 21, 2012. The day when ONE FC finally made its way to the Philippines, when Kevin Belingon fought South Korea’s Soo Chul Kim.

 

Belingon was coming off a loss at ONE FC: War of the Lions just five months before. He came to the Philippines wanting to make things right, to bounce back from the defeat with the help of the hometown crowd. However, he fell short. Belingon lost via a unanimous decision verdict against Kim, who went on to become ONE FC’s bantamweight champion.

 

On May 31, Belingon will again fight in the Philippines in ONE FC: Rise to Power. If he wins, there’s a good chance he’ll be given a rematch with Kim this time with a belt on the line.

 

“Natuto ako sa talo ko,” Belingon said. “Dinoble ko yung training ko lalo na sa ground.”

Although he concentrated in his ground game since those twin losses, Belingon used his fists to do the talking in his last two wins. He scored his first ONE FC win against Yusup Saadulaev back in October. He then reached the Finals of the ONE FC bantamweight Grand Prix with a win over Than Vu just last month. Now’s he’s preparing for the biggest fight of his life against Masakatsu Ueda of Japan.
 

 

 

“Sa ngayon, normal naman na may pressure talaga sa akin para manalo. Pero di ko na iniisip yun,” Belingon said. “Naka-focus lang ako sa kalaban ko.”

 

Ueda is a veteran with 17 wins, two losses, and two draws, compared to Belingon who only has 11 wins and two losses on his record.

 

“Well-rounded siya specially sa ground,” Belingon said of Ueda. “Pero mas maganda ang striking ko sa kanya.”

 

Weeks before the big day, Belingon is already comfortable with his condition. During the interview, he ate a serving of halo-halo which only meant that his weight is no longer a problem. Belingon never told anyone after his loss to Kim, but he never got into this kind of condition before he fought the South Korean.

 

“Nasugatan kasi ako bago yung una kong laban sa ONE FC,” admitted Belingon. “Tinamaan ako ng tuhod tapos bumukas yung kilay ko.”

 

Belingon needed six stitches to close the wound. He returned to training as fast as he could but he needed to take extra care of the wound, which prevented him from getting his peak physical condition.

 

Now with no injuries to speak of and a two-fight win streak behind him, Belingon is ready to notch his first ONE FC victory in the Philippines. 

 

“Hindi ko muna iniisip ang title shot o kung sino yung pwede kong makalaban sa susunod. Basta ako, naghahanda lang akong magbigay ng magandang laban,” Belingon said. “Sisikapin kong manalo para mapasaya ko naman yung mga taong nalungkot sa pagkatalo ko nung una.” - AMD, GMA News