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Kevin Belingon (L) will try to move closer to another title shot in ONE: Reign of Kings in Manila. ONE Championship Photos
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By Ricky Manliguis
MANILA— Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon gets another crack
at a world title when he faces Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen” for the interim
ONE Championship bantamweight title in the main event of ONE: Reign of Kings
slated July 27 at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The 30-year old Team Lakay mainstay, fresh from his
second-round knock-out win over American grappling champ Andrew Leone also in
Manila, is on a five-bout win streak and hopes to continue the streak against
Nguyen, the reigning Featherweight and Lightweight champion.
The winner of the match will set up a date with
Bantamweight king Bibiano Fernandes.
“As one
of the top bantamweights in ONE Championship, I am willing to take on all
comers. It doesn’t matter to me who is the opponent. In fact, I am honored to
face Martin Nguyen, a two-division world champion. If I can beat Martin, it
would be huge. This is a great position I am in, and I am excited for
this bout. It will be action-packed, for sure,” said Belingon (18-5).
Nguyen
(11-2), who successfully defended his featherweight title opposite Christian Lee
in Singapore last month, is eager to get back at Fernandes, who beat him via
split decision in March. But the 29-year old Vietnam- born Australian must first hurdle
the hard-punching Baguio native Belingon in his quest to be the first
three-division world champion in ONE Championship history.
“Bibiano
[Fernandes] should watch this fight with a close eye. He knows who the rightful
challenger is. It's either me or Kevin, and I will be doing everything in my
power to finish this one,” Nguyen said.
“This is
a fan-friendly match-up between two aggressive, young beasts, and I can't wait
to lock horns with Kevin. There will be fireworks.”
Rising Thai
superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai will take up former world lightweight
king Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in one of the featured undercards in the
event.
The
29-year old prospect is coming off a stunning 21-second win over Raja Rajul in
March. Aoki, on the other hand, hopes to bring yet another grappling magic in
the cage.
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| Martin Nguyen is gunning for a third title in as many weight classes. ONE Championship Photos |
Brazilian
jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie of the famed Gracie fmaily will made his final
appearance in the ONE stage against Japanese Yuki “Sora” Kondo, who will also
make his swan song from mixed martial arts.
Former
lightweight champ and Filipino Eduard Folayang is also set to make an
appearance in the event, eager to continue to comeback trail against a yet
unnamed opponent.
ONE Championship Chariman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong expressed his excitement in the card, the third to be held in Manila this year.
“It’s a
great match-up between two heavy-handed power punchers, and one that will surely leave fans at the edge of their seats."
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
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