Kevin Belingon eager for first win in 2 years – Team Lakay coach

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fighter Kevin Belingon is determined to place himself back on the winning track as he is booked to compete on the undercard of ONE Championship’s “State of Warriors” event on October 7. 

Belingon is coming off a first-round submission setback to ONE Championship bantamweight titleholder Bibiano Fernandes last January.

The 28-year-old Baguio City native has won only 4 of his last 9 bouts under the ONE Championship banner, and the last time Belingon had his hand raised was when he outpointed Japanese journeyman Koetsu Okazaki by unanimous decision in December 2014. 

According to Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao, Belingon is hungry to claim his first mixed martial arts win in nearly two years. 

“Kevin is pushing himself to the limit in training. You can feel his desire that he really wants to win this time around,” he told Rappler. 

Sangiao stressed that the painful loss to Fernandes compelled Belingon to go back to the drawing board and make necessary adjustments. 

“This sport is consistently evolving. It’s either you grow or you stagnate. The loss to Bibiano Fernandes made Kevin realize that he has a lot to learn. It was a good lesson because he made some improvements,” the longtime Team Lakay mentor shared. 

For Belingon’s second ONE Championship outing in 2016, he is set to duke it out with Tajikistan’s Muin Gafurov.

Gafurov won 10 straight bouts since he started his prizefighting run in November 2013, hauling 6 submission triumphs and 4 knockout wins. 

In his September 2015 promotional debut, Gafurov knocked out Casey Suire in just 55 seconds with a spinning back kick to the midsection. 

The 20-year-old combatant from Dushanbe, Tajikistan followed it up by attaining a statement victory over one-time bantamweight title challenger Toni Tauru last January, disposing the Finnish fighter in the third round. 

However, Gafurov tasted his first career loss at the hands of Filipino-Australian stalwart Reece McLaren via unanimous decision this past April.

Sangiao believes the 3-round bantamweight clash against Gafurov will be a tough test for Belingon, but he is confident his valued pupil will walk out victorious. 

“It’s a good match-up for Kevin. His opponent is no pushover because Gafurov has a good ground game and a decent stand-up. But Kevin wants to get this win more than ever. No one can deny his eagerness to win,” he said. 

ONE: State of Warriors takes place at the Thuwanna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar. – Rappler.com