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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider 'A no-brainer', says Kevin Belingon on Bibiano Fernandes' Hall of Fame induction

'A no-brainer', says Kevin Belingon on Bibiano Fernandes' Hall of Fame induction

Published Mar 11, 2025 12:46 pm

At A Glance

  • "There's no question about it. He should be there in the ONE Championship Hall of Fame."   

After calling it a career at ONE 171: Qatar last month, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes will be immortalized in ONE Championship lore.  

ONE-171-Bibiano-Fernandes-def-Kevin-Belingon-1 (1).jpg
(ONE Championship)

The most successful bantamweight MMA fighter in the world will be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on March 23 inside the 37,000-seat Saitama Super Arena in Japan.  

Fittingly, Fernandes will be inducted during one of the most stacked cards in the promotion’s history. It will be bannered by the showdown between two of the most recognizable stars in the striking arts today – Takeru Segawa and Rodtang Jitmuangnon. And there will be five World Title bouts across three disciplines.  

With the Brazilian set to join Demetrious Johnson in the promotion’s Hall of Fame, his biggest rival Kevin Belingon couldn’t be happier with the honor Fernandes is rightfully receiving.  

“I’m so happy for Bibiano Fernandes. He truly earned it. He’s one of the pioneers of this organization, he was one of the faces of the early years of ONE Championship, and he truly dominated the division for the longest time,” he said. 

“There’s no question about it. He should be there in the ONE Championship Hall of Fame.”   

The two shared 14 rounds together across five fights, making Fernandes the biggest rival of Belingon’s illustrious MMA career.  

Four of those came in World Title fights, with Fernandes winning three of them. During his entire career, he won 11 World Title matches – the most in the promotion’s history.  

“Just looking at his resume and his performances,” Belingon said. “There’s no doubt. I think he’s the longest reigning champion in the promotion. It’s only right for him to be in there.”  

When Fernandes retired, the two shared a moment together. According to Belingon, they put the rivalry to bed altogether, exchanging pleasantries as the Brazilian prepares for life after MMA.

“After the fight, I was pretty disappointed with the result. I definitely wanted to get that one, and I was one judge away from beating him, so that’s life. I was in the dugout, Bibiano came into the dugout. I approached him, congratulated him, and we just caught up with each other on life in general,” Belingon said.  

“He told me he’ll be visiting me in the Philippines, in Baguio, if he gets the chance.  The rivalry ended like that. We wished each other well. There were no hard feelings whatsoever.”  

Related Tags

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