Former ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes will conclude his career with a retirement fight against Kevin Belingon at the ONE 171 card in Qatar on February 20, marking their fifth encounter.
Former ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes is gearing up for his retirement fight. He’ll face Kevin Belingon at the upcoming ONE 171 card in Qatar on Feb. 20. Big moment, right?
ONE Championship officials have confirmed this epic showdown to MMA Fighting. At 44, the Brazilian legend is taking on Belingon for an unprecedented fifth time. It’s expected to be his final curtain call.
Fernandes has been a cornerstone of the organization since 2012. In just his second appearance, he snagged an interim title and defended it seven times in a row. That’s no small feat.
Back in 2018, he lost the title to Belingon in a controversial split decision. But wait—he reclaimed it after Belingon was disqualified for illegal elbows. Drama much?
The saga continued with Fernandes defending the belt against Belingon yet again. But in 2022, he finally fell to ex-UFC fighter John Lineker. Tough break.
Now, it’s round five with Belingon as they look to settle the score once and for all this February. Fernandes boasts an impressive 24-6 record, having started his career way back in 2004. A true veteran.
For Belingon, this fight is a chance to shake off a rough patch—a five-fight skid, including two losses to Fernandes. Can he turn things around? We’ll see.