Fernandes: 'Belingon has improved, but he didn't improve a lot'

ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil will face Team Lakay's ONE interim bantamweight title holder Kevin Belingon in the main event of ONE: Heart of the Lion on November 9 at Indoor Stadium in Singapore. PHOTO BY ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

SINGAPORE - Reigning ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil is not convinced that Team Lakay's ONE interim bantamweight title holder Kevin Belingon is a different fighter now compared to their first meeting in 2016.

Fernandes and Belingon are set to trade leather in their highly anticipated rematch in the main event of ONE: Heart of the Lion on November 9 at Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

"He didn't improve a lot, he only improved something, that's it. He's improved some things but Kevin is still Kevin, he still throw that right hand and nice kicks and that's it," said Fernandes.

"When I fought Leone, I finished him in the first round within three minutes. I will go bring my best, I won't go look for a submission, I fight to win. I go for whatever is there for me. I don't want to look for a submission, whatever is there I come to fight."

Fernandes and Belingon first met a couple of years ago when the former submitted the Filipino striker in the opening round. The Brazilian champion also refuses to believe that the upcoming showdown is the biggest fight of his career, stating he's already past Belingon.

"My training has been good, I feel excited and I strong. The reason why this is not the biggest fight [of my career] is because I already fought him in the past, I've beaten him," told Fernandes.

"I don't know why he has an interim belt. If you're past somebody, why fight him again? I'm already past Kevin and now we have to fight again. It's ok let's fight again."