Bibiano Fernandes looks to solidify his greatness with seventh title defense
Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes could very well be the greatest bantamweight mixed martial artist to ever step inside the cage.
Fernandes, the reigning and defending ONE Bantamweight World Champion, has a resume that speaks volumes.
At 20-3, the five-time BJJ world champion is currently riding a massive 12-fight win streak, and owns the ONE Championship record for most consecutive title defences at six. It is difficult to assess where a fighter stands in the all-time ranks while still active, but the Brazilian will continue to make his case for ‘greatest ever’ when he attempts a seventh title defence.
On Saturday, 5 August, he defends the belt against Andrew Leone in the main event of ONE: KINGS AND CONQUERORS, live from the Cotai Arena in Macao.
“Andrew Leone is a very tough kid. He is young, he is good at wrestling, he is good at mixed martial arts, and he has very good transitions,” the 37-year-old offers. “For sure, it is going to be a very interesting fight. It is going to be a good fight for people to watch. I am so excited.”
From the moment he arrived in ONE Championship, Fernandes has truly proved to be “The Flash”. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu back belt put on a clinic upon his debut, delivering a one-sided drubbing of Gustavo Falciroli at ONE: PRIDE OF A NATION in August 2012.
The next stop was for the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship in May 2013. Fernandes would prove successful, defeating Koetsu Okazaki, a Shooto Featherweight Champion, via decision. He duly removed the word “interim” from that honour later in October, when he defeated Soo Chul Kim to unify the titles.
Since becoming the undisputed champ, “The Flash” has run through the division’s elite. He owns victories over notable names such as Toni “Dynamite” Tauru, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, and Reece “Lightning” McLaren, the latter of which he defeated in his last outing at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION last December.
None of the AMC Pankration product’s success is due to luck. It is all thanks to hard work in the gym.
“I train hard,” he states. “Confidence in my training is more important. Training makes me win, I always say that. I am confident that I will bring a good fight. That is how I am. That is what I always do. I can bring the victory, for sure.”
He will need all of that training if he hopes to get past Leone, who returns to competition after more than a year away.
The grappling specialist made his ONE debut in 2013, defeating Team Lakay’s Geje Eustaquio via unanimous decision at ONE: RISE TO POWER. Leone followed that up with decision wins over Shinichi Kojima at ONE: WAR OF NATIONS in 2014, and Koetsu Okazaki at ONE: TRIBE OF WARRIORS in February 2016.
The 27-year-old American was kept out of action for the remainder of 2016 due to a string of injuries. After a 17-month layoff, Leone returns to the cage fully recovered, but faces a stiff test in a champion who has not tasted defeat since 2010.
While Fernandes’ credentials are impeccable, Leone is no pushover. The native New Yorker, who now calls Indonesia home, is a former collegiate wrestler who pairs his mat skills with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and ever-improving Muay Thai skills. He is also co-owner of Bali MA, where teaching others no doubt sharpens his instincts.
None of that matters, as the champion is ready for whatever Leone throws at him.
“I train every day hard. I train hard, I have discipline. I do everything I have to do, so that my performance is good come fight night. I don’t feel pressure,” Fernandes explains. “I don’t only train hard, I train smart. I try to be very wise, and I try to peak just before the fight. That’s my job. It’s what I have been doing for 21 years.”
