Belingon, Nguyen to tussle for ONE interim bantamweight title

Photo from ONE Championship

Kevin Belingon is about to get his due title shot.

After becoming ONE Championship’s most dangerous bantamweight not named Bibiano Ferndandes, Belingon will get his chance at the gold when he takes on two-division champion Martin Nguyen for the promotion’s interim 65-kilogram strap.

Belingon (18-5) has cemented himself as one of the top 65 kg. fighters in the promotion, riding a five-fight win streak since his last loss to undisputed bantamweight champion Fernandes in 2016.

Nguyen (11-2), meanwhile, has said it multiple times that he wants to hold three belts all at the same time.

The two will square off against each other on July 27 at Mall of Asia Arena in ONE: Reign of Kings.

“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,” said Belingon. “In fact I am honored to face Martin Nguyen, a two-division World champion.”

“If I beat Martin, it would be huge, this is a great position I am in and I am excited for this bout,” added Belingon.

Nguyen, who beat Belingon’s Team Lakay stablemate Eduard Folayang for the lightweight title, said he wants Fernandes to watch his match against Belingon to see who should be the rightful contender for the undisputed belt.

Belingon and Nguyen have one common denominator, and it’s that both failed to deliver the goods against Fernandes.

Nguyen lost to Fernandes in March of 2018 in a close split decision while Belingon tapped out to the champion’s Kimura lock in the first round of their 2016 fight.

“Bibiano should watch this fight with a close eye,” said Nguyen who won seven of his last eight fights. “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.”

Thai superstar Shannon Wiratchai (9-2) will also make his Philippine debut in the fight card when he faces the legendary Japanese Shinya Aoki (40-8).

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Renzo Gracie (13-7), a member of the iconic Gracie family, will have the farewell match as he battles 42-year-old Yuki Kondo (60-34) of Japan.