Belingon lifts Pinoy pride in ONE: Reign of Kings
Kevin Belingon banked on his solid stand-up game to deny two-division champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen any chance to use his ground skills en route to snatching the ONE interim bantamweight world title via unanimous decision in ONE: Reign of Kings late Friday night at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“I trained hard for this match just to get this belt. I am proud to be a champion representing the Philippines,” Belingon said.
“I am the happiest athlete tonight. To Martin Nguyen, it was an honor fighting you,” added Belingon.
Belingon caught an accidental head butt in the opening round and a low blow to the groin in the third round from Nguyen.
Kevin Belingon (right) throws a kick against two-division champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen in ONE: Reign of Kings late Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. PHOTO BY ANDREA DELA CRUZ
Belingon kept the Australian at bay with powerful hand strikes to the head and occasionally uncorking his patented spinning back kicks in the fourth round.
The 30-year old Pinoy fighter did enough to get the nod of all the three judges.
Belingon’s feat has distinguished the Philippines as the country with the most world championships wins in ONE. The other current Filipino world champions in the league are heavyweight world champion Brandon Vera, and flyweight world champion Geje Eustaquio also of Team Lakay.
Belingon, who improved his record to 19-5, is now bracing to challenge ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes.
“I respect him (Fernandes) as a champion but we are in the same weight class. So there is no escape in facing me. I hope you recover fast and make the fight possible this year,” said Belingon of Fernandes, who was in the audience during the fight.
Nguyen’s record dropped to 11-3.
In the co-main event, former ONE lightweight world champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Japan won via technical knockout against Thai martial arts star Shannon “One Shin” Wiratchai after the referee stopped the contest at the 2:16 mark of the first round when the latter can no longer defend against his foe’s strikes.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu luminary Renzo Gracie, who walked out of an eight-year retirement, showed he’s still razor-sharp by beating Japanese martial arts legend Yuki Kondo with a rear naked choke at the 1:40 minute mark of Round 2.
Three other Filipino fighters were triumphant in their respective matches.
Former lightweight champion and Team Lakay standout Eduard Folayang gave Russian Aziz Pahrudinov his first taste of defeat with the Filipino earning a unanimous decision win in their lightweight contest.
Joshua “The Passion” Pacio extend his winning streak to three by subduing Pongsiri Mitsatit of Thailand with an armlock in the first round.
Wushu world champion Rene Catalan of Catalan Fighting System earned a unanimous decision victory over Stefer Rahardian of Indonesia.
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