Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It’s been more than a year since Kevin Belingon suffered his last defeat in ONE Championship when he tapped out to bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes back in January of 2016.
The 30-year-old Team Lakay member has since racked up four straight victories, with the last one coming in the Legends of the World card Friday at Mall of Asia Arena when Belingon dominated Kevin Chung (4-1) for a unanimous decision win.
Belingon (17-5) felt he has proved that he is back at the top tier of the bantamweight division, and he is eager to book another fight with the iconic Fernandes.
“I think this is my time to face the champ,” said Belingon boldly.
And Belingon is not the only person who believes he deserves another crack at the bantamweight belt as ONE Championship Chairman Chatri Sityodtong echoed his notion.
“I thought he deserves a title shot, I mean, Belingon is back,” said Sityodtong. “I think a couple of years ago he was too conservative, he was too cautious, he wasn’t Kevin Belingon.”
“But now, the real Kevin Belingon, the explosive striker, the guy who has a killer instinct, he’s back,” Sityodtong added.
Belingon showed the methodical madness that had become his trademark as he systematically displayed his offense against Chung throughout the 15-minute fight.
Chung repeatedly found the mat and was unable to use his ground game against the aggressive Belingon who pelted the American with constant leg kicks.
“I think it wasn’t yet my time when I first faced Bibiano, that wasn’t the time for me to get the belt,” said Belingon. “So I really had to improve my jiu-jitsu because that’s the area I felt I need to improve on. I hope I keep winning until I get the belt.”