Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon – The Manila Monster
Oh, the Philippines! The rings, the raucous crowds, the roar of every Filipino ear – and there’s one fighter who stole the show like a midnight movie sneak!
Why it mattered
Our very own Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon got his hands on the ONE Interim Bantamweight Title right where his heart beats – home soil, the Mall of Asia Arena. Big! Huge! He faced Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen, a two‑weight ONE World Champion with a freakish mix of Vietnamese and Australian swagger.
Round By Round — The Story
- Round 1: Nguyen tried wrestling. Belingon? Cool as a cucumber, flowed like water, dodging every takedown. He threw ferocious leg kicks and cookie‑crunch pairs of punches. When Nguyen rattled him a second time, Belingon countered with a spinning back‑elbow that had the crowd going wild.
- Round 2: The Filipino on fire. He peppered shots, but Nguyen didn’t take a single one – and he landed some of his own punches, keeping the fight close to the scorecards.
- Round 3: A change of pace. Nguyen landed a powerful overhand right, but Belingon answered back with a spinning wheel kick and a leaping hook that rattled the fans. That leg swing from Nguyen, however, made Belingon’s side of the hexagon dip dramatically.
- Championship Rounds (5th & 6th):
- Round 5 – After a jaw‑shattering landing from Nguyen, Belingon blasted a jumping roundhouse kick that sent the Aussie back to the cage. The Aussie tried to stall, but the Filipino was relentless.
- Round 6 – A story of a triumphant strike: Belingon hit Nguyen with a big right hook; then, to go all‑out, he delivered a hard body kick. Nguyen fought back on the retainer of a massive takedown attempt, but the plot was clear – the Philippines had the moment.
Outcome & Aftermath
As the final bell rang, Kevin Belingon celebrated a hard‑earned victory – the arena exploded, the fans erupted, and our champion held the title high above the Baguio City skyline. Nguyen, humbled and fully respecting his conqueror, bowed his head in the cage.
Behind the Scenes a.k.a. Marcel Talk
After the fight, Belingon kept it real: “It was an honour to fight Martin. He’s a great fighter, and he’s still a champion.” He then turned to fellow champ Bibiano Fernandes with a spark in his eye – “I respect him as a champion, but we’re in the same weight class and I’m the top contender, so there’s no escape, my friend!”
What to Watch
Make sure your TV is set because the next match? World Champion vs. World Champion – a bunker of fists that everyone will want to see. One fight. One hell of a showdown.
