ONE Championship is set to immortalize one of its greatest fighters, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, as he enters the ONE Hall of Fame during ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on March 23 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Fernandes, widely regarded as one of the most dominant bantamweights in MMA history, will be honored in front of a 37,000-strong crowd at the event, which also features five world title bouts and a highly anticipated kickboxing showdown between Takeru Segawa and Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
While Fernandes won’t be stepping inside the cage as a competitor, his legacy in ONE Championship remains unmatched, and his former rival, Kevin Belingon, fully supports the recognition.
Belingon: “He Truly Earned It”
For Kevin Belingon, who had an intense rivalry with Fernandes over the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title, this Hall of Fame induction is well deserved.
“I’m so happy for Bibiano Fernandes. He truly earned it. He’s one of the pioneers of this organization, he was one of the faces of the early years of ONE Championship, and he truly dominated the division for the longest time,” Belingon said.
The Filipino star emphasized that Fernandes’ contributions to ONE Championship’s bantamweight division were unparalleled, making him a clear candidate for the Hall of Fame.
“There’s no question about it. He should be there in the ONE Championship Hall of Fame.”
A Legacy Built on Greatness
Fernandes’ ONE journey began in 2012, when he debuted at ONE: Pride of a Nation in the Philippines. From that moment, he established himself as a dominant force, competing in 13 consecutive world title bouts and winning 11 of them—a record that remains unbroken.
He unified the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title and went on to defend it seven times, a reign that Belingon himself ended in 2018. However, Fernandes reclaimed the championship shortly after, solidifying his legacy as a two-time world champion.
With such accolades, Belingon believes Fernandes’ induction was inevitable.
“Just looking at his resume and his performance, there’s no doubt,” Belingon added. “I think he’s the longest-reigning champion in the promotion. It’s only right for him to be in there.”
ONE 172: A Historic Event
Fernandes’ Hall of Fame induction will take place at ONE 172, a historic event featuring:
- Takeru Segawa vs. Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a super-fight
- Five world title bouts across MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai
- A stacked card of elite martial artists
As Fernandes is honored on March 23, fans will witness a true pioneer of ONE Championship take his place among the greatest fighters in the promotion’s history.
