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Bibiano Fernandes vs. Soo Chul Kim Unification Bout Headlines ONE FC: Total Domination

Bibiano Fernandes to Defend Bantamweight Belt at ONE: Dynasty of Champions

ONE FC: Total Domination was confirmed on Monday for the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct. 18. It will be headlined by a bantamweight unification bout between reigning champion Soo Chul Kim and interim champion Bibiano Fernandes.

ONE FC is headquartered in Singapore and this will be the fifth card to take place in the 12,000-capacity arena there. It follows hot on the heels of the Sept. 13 event at the Istora Senayan Stadium in Indonesia.

Kim (7-4) became the inaugural ONE FC bantamweight champion when he stopped Brazilian Leandro Issa in the second round of their rematch last October. The 21-year-old has been out of action ever since with a separated shoulder, but has been back in training for almost three months.

Fernandes (14-3) is the most decorated fighter in Asian MMA, having won the DREAM 135-pound and 145-pound Grand Prix tournaments. He became ONE FC’s interim bantamweight champion with a unanimous decision win over Kotetsu Okazaki in May.

Although Fernandes’ experience and accomplishments make him a clear favorite, Kim has been revitalized in recent fights. He was arguably the most improved fighter in Asian MMA prior to his injury, registering impressive wins over Shoko Sato, Kevin Belingon, and Issa.

ONE FC CEO Victor Cui has pledged to put on five shows before the end of 2013 with Jakarta in September and Singapore in October as the only dates currently confirmed. Asia’s biggest MMA promotion is also likely to return to Kuala Lumpur and Manila with another card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium reportedly in the works.

The schedule for 2014 is even more ambitious with ONE FC looking to put on 24 events, and expanding to countries that include Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, India and Taiwan, as well as returning to Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore.

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