Stephen Loman embraces pressure as he joins ONE

Team Lakay’s Stephen Loman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Stephen Loman’s decision to leave BRAVE CF for ONE Championship was not without its fair share of challenges and pressure.

The former BRAVE CF bantamweight champion is aware that he’s already got a target on his back even before he steps inside the ONE cage and that’s a predicament he’s ready to face.

“I’m aware that they’re already looking at me the moment I signed with ONE,” said Loman in Filipino Thursday. “That’s their style, but I’d rather focus on myself first.”

Loman (13-2) is on an eight-fight winning streak that started in 2016 when he scored a unanimous decision win over Ernie Braca in PXC.

His stint in BRAVE CF was also a perfect one as he went 6-0 in the promotion.

The Team Lakay standout is also aware of the stacked bantamweight division that he’s entering but he maintained he won’t fight stablemate and former champion Kevin Belingon.

Others, though, won’t be safe from his impending arrival and he’s even willing to trade shots with ONE World bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes if given the chance.

“I know there’s pressure, that’s normal for a champion coming into a new promotion. But I have my brothers with me so I expect that I will match up with fighters of the highest level,” said Loman.

“Maybe if the opportunity comes, then yes I’m willing to fight for the belt. That’s always the target, to get the belt.”