MMA News: Ex-BRAVE CF Champ Wants To Prove He Can Hang With ONE Championship's Best

Former BRAVE CF bantamweight champion Stephen Loman believes he has a lot left to prove as he makes his debut under the ONE Championship umbrella.

Speaking with the media in a virtual press conference, the Team Lakay striker revealed that he remains confident in his skills despite a long layoff.

“One of my goals is to prove that I belong here. Another would be to face the top contenders, which is why I need to do my best in my upcoming fight so that I can have an opportunity to fight Bibiano Fernandes for his [bantamweight] title,” Loman coolly remarked.

Loman was originally scheduled to make his promotional debut against No. 1-ranked bantamweight John Lineker at ONE on TNT III last April, but he contracted COVID-19 and had to pull out.

Had he been available for that fight and picked up the win, it would have been very likely that his second fight would see him against reigning bantamweight king Bibiano Fernandes.

However, he will now be facing No. 3-ranked bantamweight Yusup Saadulaev of Russia who is riding a three-fight win streak.

Nicknamed “The Sniper” for picking his spots when he throws his shots, Loman is riding an eight-fight win streak that stretches back to April of 2016, with two of those wins coming via knockout.

The 29-year-old has been fighting since 2012, but he is looking forward to the challenges that he will face as part of the ONE Championship roster.

“I’m expecting that the fighters I’ll face are worthy of being title contenders. I’ve experienced being a champion in other divisions which is why it’s a chance for me to showcase my skills by doing my best. I’m very confident in my skills,” Loman stressed.

Loman will be joined by his Team Lakay brothers Kevin Belingon, Danny Kingad and fellow debutant Jhanlo Sangiao at ONE: Winter Warriors II.

No. 2-ranked bantamweight Belingon will have a great opportunity at stopping his three-fight losing streak when he meets South Korea’s Kwon Won Il.

Kingad has a potential title-eliminator bout against former flyweight king and No. 4-ranked flyweight Kairat Akhmetov, while Sangiao gets to face Indonesia's Paul Lumihi.

ONE: Winter Warriors II will be recorded at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on December 3 and will be aired live via tape delay on December 17.