By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
MANILA — A fourth world title fight was announced for the first fight card of One Championship in Tokyo.
No less than One’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, announced on Sunday that Kevin Belingon will make his first defense of the One bantamweight title right against the same guy who he took the belt from, Bibiano Fernandes, at One: A New Era on March 31.
“Without a doubt, it will be another epic war with big fireworks for the final chapter between two of the world’s greatest martial artists,” Sityodtong said on his Facebook about the Belingon-Fernandes showdown, the third installment of their rivalry.
Belingon and Fernandes split their first two meetings, both with the said title on the line.
Fernandes won in their first showdown on Jan. 23, 2016 in Changsha by submitting Belingon via the Kimura lock.
But Belingon got payback just last November in Singapore when he shocked Fernandes with a split decision victory.
Belingon will join fellow Team Lakay member Eduard Folayang at One: A New Era.
As previously announced, Folayang will face off with Shinya Aoki in a rematch of their own for the One lightweight title in the headliner.
