Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon (14-5) of Baguio City, Philippines, ended a two-year skid by defeating top Tajikistan mixed martial arts prospect Muin Gafurov (10-2) over three intense rounds.
The pair did battle in a bantamweight contest at ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS, which took place 7 October at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.
The 28-year-old Belingon employed a highly-methodical game plan, utilizing his trademark power and incredible speed to stifle combat sambo world champion Gafurov.
Throughout the bout, Belingon landed a series of inside and outside leg kicks, slowing down the younger Gafurov as the bout wore on. Gafurov’s combat sambo, which includes elements of grappling, was ineffective in this instance against Belingon’s world-class wushu sanshou base.
Every time Gafurov moved in to try and close the gap, setting up takedowns with his striking, Belingon would lay back and counter with great accuracy. The Filipino’s lightning quick strikes were on full display, as Belingon proved to be the busier, stronger fighter throughout the bout.
Gafurov, for all his talent, seemed to be lulled into a trance by Belingon’s intelligent use of the cage. The Tajikistan fighter uncannily fought most of the bout at the Filipino’s pace, which proved to be his undoing.
In the end, all three judges scored in favor of Belingon, who was happy to take a victory home over a highly-regarded opponent. As a result, Belingon clinches his first victory in nearly two-years since his scintillating performance against Koetsu Okazaki in 2014.
Earlier this year, Belingon challenged ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes in Changsha, China, but fell short of victory in a quick affair.
With the victory over Gafurov, Belingon puts himself right back in the mix at the top of ONE Championship’s bantamweight division.
