Bibiano Fernandes blasts ONE Championship for ‘putting me on hold for two years’
- Bantamweight champion says his pleas for a fight have fallen on deaf ears with his messages and calls going unreturned
- ‘I don’t like to play games, psychology ... If you don’t want me, tell me. Let’s move forward. You’re happy, I’m happy,’ Fernandes says
Bibiano Fernandes has “no idea” why ONE Championship has not offered him a fight in nearly two years.
The Asian promotion’s bantamweight champion has not fought since settling his rivalry with Kevin Belingon via a second-round rear-naked choke at ONE: Century Part II in Tokyo in October, 2019.
The 41-year-old Brazilian (24-4) said his attempts to talk to ONE have gone unanswered and that he fears he may never fight in the organisation again.
“I’ve been trying to speak with ONE for almost two years now, trying to figure out what’s going on,” Fernandes told SCMP MMA. “I’ve been training, I’m ready to fight. I’ve tried texting them saying, ‘Hey guys, I wanna go fight’. I’m here waiting for ONE Championship. I don’t hear nothing back from these guys.
“I tried my best. I want to come back but something is holding me back. I have no idea what it is. I try talking with everybody out there, brother, trust me. I try so hard, you have no idea. It doesn’t make sense.
