Bibiano Fernandes explains return to ONE Championship for retirement fight
Bibiano Fernandes wasn’t happy with the way ONE Championship handled his contract situation between 2022 and 2023. Back with the promotion for one final MMA bout, facing Kevin Belingon on Thursday’s ONE 171 in Qatar, “The Flash said he’s now on good terms with company CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Fernandes made a name for himself in the circular cage with 12 wins in 15 appearances, including 11 bantamweight title bout victories, but was let go after a decision defeat to Stephen Loman. After being forced to sit out for a year, and not having his contract renewed, Fernandes told MMA Fighting at the time that MMA fighters should “think twice” before signing with the Asian promotion.
“I’m at ONE for 11 years and every relationship have two sides,” Fernandes told MMA Fighting ahead of this week’s retirement bout. “I didn’t get in this organization yesterday, so Chatri and I spoke about that interview I did. We sat down and spoke, I said I was with them for a long time, and liked ONE Championship, and I wanted to say what I was feeling.”
Fernandes said Sityodtong felt bad for what happened and asked what he could to do to make up for it, and that’s when the Brazilian veteran suggested a retirement bout. There’s also a chance Fernandes continues with ONE Championship as a brand ambassador moving forward, but his sole focus at the moment is to walk away with a win.
“I don’t think it was correct that I didn’t have a farewell bout,” Fernandes said. “I was there for many years and it wasn’t correct I wouldn’t get my farewell. When I was released from my contract, I was busy with my gym and had the [IBJJF] Pan-Ams coming, where I competed at. We kept talking, and we got to a deal. And the relationship is way better now.”
Fernandes competed in jiu-jitsu tournaments since his last ONE fight in late-2023, including a grappling match with Urijah Faber at ADXC in August 2024, and added muay thai and boxing to his daily routine once he was booked to face Belingon at ONE.
Fernandes already fought Belingon four times in ONE championship fights, going 3-1 against the Filipino talent. The jiu-jitsu ace sees Belingon as a “very explosive and slippery” opponent who will “probably try to keep the fight on the feet and knock me out.”
“Last time Kevin and I fought, it did like 39 million views,” Fernandes said. “People were very into this fight, especially the Filipinos. I went to Thailand once and stopped in the Philippines and everybody wanted to take pictures with me. So it wasn’t a surprise that they booked it again.”
“The Flash” was a two-division champion at Japan’s DREAM before building a very successful career at ONE. A month away from turning 45 years old, and victorious in 24 of 30 professional MMA bouts since 2001, Fernandes prepares to walk away from the sport and be seen as an example for future generations.
“Never give up,” Fernandes said. “I come from Manaus and never had many opportunities in life, but I made it happen. I jumped on every challenge I saw. People said I was crazy, but there’s a good and bad side of everything in life. I never quit, and stayed ready for war. You don’t see people fighting at 45, but I don’t drink and I don’t smoke. I dedicate 100 percent to gentle art and MMA. And when I’m done fighting, I’ll dedicate even harder to coaching and making champions in jiu-jitsu and MMA.”