Bibiano Fernandes, the most decorated champ in ONE history, wrapped up his record-setting career on Thursday night with a win over his most prominent rival.
Fernandes, 44, secured a split decision win against Kevin Belingon on Thursday night, beating him at ONE 171 from Lusail, Qatar. The competitive fight saw Fernandes mix together striking and ground control to defeat Belingon for the fourth time through their five meetings over the past 10 years.
The competitive result wraps up a run which started in the early 2000s and included appearances at some of ONE’s earliest shows.
Fernandes lasted more than two decades as an MMA pro, first debuting back in 2004 on the Brazilian regional scene. After early-career losses to legendary talents Urijah Faber and Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto, Fernandes gained prominence in Japan’s Dream promotion.
Fernandes briefly held a featherweight title in Dream, a reign which saw him get past Joachim Hansen in a 2010 split decision. In 2012, he inked a deal with ONE Championship, kicking off a run which would make up the majority of his time as a competitor.
Over the next decade and some change, Fernandes set records in ONE and became one of their most successful athletes.
Fernandes accomplished the most consecutive title defenses in the promotion’s history, gaining their 145-pound title in 2013 and defending the belt seven times up until 2017. He still holds the record, tied with Xiong Jing Nan and Muay Thai’s Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.
The lengthy rivalry with Belingon started in 2018 when the Filipino talent dethroned Fernandes in a five-round split decision outcome, ending his multi-year reign.
Fernandes was able to regain his title a year later, avenging his defeat to Belingon with a third-round stoppage due to strikes. He beat him once again later that year as well.
While the second title run for Fernandes was short-lived—ending in 2022 with a loss against UFC alum John Lineker—the stint allowed him to set the record for most combined wins in title fights. With 11 wins in championship fights, Fernandes has at least two more victories in title bouts than any other fighter in ONE history.
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