Kevin Belingon, Olivier Coste, Bibiano Fernandes

Reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, 31, of the Philippines is all geared up to defend his title at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on March 31, 2019 against rival Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, 38, of Brazil. The highly anticipated trilogy bout is one of three co-main events at “ONE: A New Era.”

“I’m going for the finish. This time, when I see the opening, I’m going to take it,” Belingon stated. “I’m going to be aggressive and strong. With my Team Lakay brothers at cageside, I will have the strength and power to defeat him.”

Belingon’s title defense was the last announcement to be made for the card among the Team Lakay World Champions. Although he had been enjoying the beginning of the year, he was doing some light training just in case he got the call to defend his belt in Tokyo.

“I started 2019 enjoying the company of my family and friends,” Belingon said. “I wasn’t worried at all that I didn’t have a schedule to defend my title yet. I was in light training just in case. You never know when the call could come, and it was best to be prepared.”

Belingon had a gut feeling he would be getting the call soon so when the news broke, he was not surprised at all. A feeling of excitement came over him because he would get to join his Team Lakay brothers Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, 34, and Danny “The King” Kingad, 23, on the card.

“I had a feeling I would be defending my title against Bibiano again,” Belingon said. “It was inevitable given how close the last bout was. I don’t mind. I’m excited and willing to prove myself once again.”

Belingon and Fernandes first met back in January 2016 where the Team Lakay stalwart tapped to a kimura in the first round. In 2018, they met for a second time. Ready for his Brazilian opponent’s grappling, the Filipino fighter outperformed the defending champion to win via razor-thin split decision.

It is a feat Belingon wishes to repeat at “ONE: A New Era.” For him it is going to be the toughest bout of his career.

“I have prepared well for him again,” Belingon said. “I think I know him very well now. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

If Belingon can pull off another incredible performance, a victory would effectively and finally put Fernandes in his rear view mirror. The reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion cannot wait to put on a show for the fans in Tokyo and to lay it all out inside the cage.

Here is Belingon and his fellow Team Lakay fighters: