MATAPOS kapusin ang kampanya na muling maging world champion, tatangkain ni challenger Andrew Leone na muling makamit ang pedestal sa pakikipagtuos sa pinakamatikas na Pinoy fighter sa kasalukuyan.
Mapapalaban si Leone kay Team Lakay’s Kevin Belingon sa main event ng ONE: HEROES OF HONOR sa 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena sa Abril 20.
“I love Asia. I’ve been living and competing here for a very long time. I’ve been to different countries and cities, including Manila. Manila is a special place because it’s where I had my promotional debut for ONE Championship,” pahayag ni Leone.
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“It’s great to have my first match for 2018 in Manila. It feels like I’ve gone full circle,” aniya.
Ipinapalagay na hinog na para maging world champion sa Asian MMA ang eight-year veteran na si Leone matapos magwagi kay Pinoy fighter Geje Eustaquio sa ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship noong Mayo 2013.
Mula nang mag-debut sa ONE Championship, naitala ng 28-anyos mula sa Cortland, New York, ang dalawang impresibong panalo laban sa liyamadong karibal.
“There were moments in my career when I was already near to the title shot, but suddenly I lost the momentum due to circumstances that were beyond my control. I really pushed myself very hard to reach the top. Finally after four years, I had the chance to vie for the world title,” sambit ni Leone.
Hinamon ni Leone si Bibiano Fernandes para sa ONE Bantamweight World Championship noong August 2017, ngunit nabigo siya sa Brazilian legend via first-round submission.
“It was a tough loss. I worked very hard for that bout, and I only lasted for almost two minutes inside the cage with him. I believe I could have done more against Bibiano Fernandes, but it is what it is,” aniya.
Laban kay Belingon, kumpiyansa si Leone na mangingibabaw sa pagkakataong ito.
“I heard Kevin Belingon was supposed to be next in line for the title, but the promotion had other plans. Winning the title is my happy ending in this journey. If I win this, I know I will be in a great position to face Bibiano for the title again,” pahayag ni Leone.
Impresibo ang kampanya ni Belingon tampok ang apat na sunod na panalo mula noong October 2016, kabilang ang kahanga-hangang panalo kina ex-bantamweight title contenders Toni Tauru at Reece McLaren.
Asam ng 30-anyos mula sa Baguio City na makakuha muli ng pagkakataon sa ONE Bantamweight World Championship matapos mabigo kay Gernandez noong Enero 2016.
Kontra kay Leone, kumpiyansa si Belingon.
“I’m a lot younger. I think I’m faster, I’ve got some good scrambling, and I’m a little bit taller,” aniya. “I’m going to get there in and just wrestle him. I see a lot of different positions coming up that I’m going to take advantage of and come out on top.”
