Itinuturing ikalawang tahahan ni reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes ang Pilipinas kung kaya’t puno ng saya ang kanyang damdamin sa tuwing bibisita sa Manila.
Muli, magbabalik Pilipinas si Fernandes (19-3) para idepensa ang titulo kontra sa Filipino-Australian sensation na si Reece “Lightning” McLaren (9-3) bilang co-main event ng ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION sa Disyembre 2 sa MOA Arena.
Ito ang ikalimang pagkakataon na sasabak sa One promotion sa Manila ang Brazilian superstar kung kaya’t hindi niya maitago ang pagmamahal sa Pilipinas na itinuturin niyang ikalawang tahanan.
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“First time I went to Manila I thought about Muhammad Ali, the boxer, and that I fought in the same arena he fought,” sambit ni Fernandes, nag-debut sa ONE sa Araneta Coliseum.
“For me that was a big thing. Ali fought there and I fought the same place as him. So for that reason, fighting in Manila is very special for me.” “I like everything about Manila. Manila is a very nice, warm place. I love the people,” sambit ni Fernandes.
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Simula noon, nagpabalik-balik na ang Brazilian jiu-jetsu master, sa Manila at pinananabikan umano niya ang bawat sandali ng kanyang pamamalagi sa bansa.
“I believe in myself. I believe if I train right and do everything right I’m going to do my best and when I do my best the outcome is victory,” pahayag ni Fernandes.
“I always have confidence with my training, I always try to be healthy. What happens in the fight is in the fight. Be sharp, be strong, be smart, be quick.”
Sa kabuuang 19 panalo, siyam ang naipanalo niya via submission. Kontra kay McLaren, 11 taong mas bata sa kanya, inaasahan niya ang mabigat na hamon.
“[Reece McLaren] is a young guy. He wants to fight. He’s going to bring the fight,” sambit ni Fernandes. “But they call me ‘The Flash’ because I finish guys quick. Until today I still have that nickname.”
