Bibiano Fernandes believes timing could be key against Stephen Loman

Bibiano Fernandes holds the record for most world title defenses in ONE Championship precisely because of his deep arsenal of skills and incredible fight IQ.

Heading into his huge match against Stephen Loman at ONE on Prime Video 4 on Friday, November 18, ‘The Flash’ bared one of the key skills he needs against a dangerous fighter like the Filipino star. Fernandes shared an Instagram reel of his match against Reece Mclaren back in 2016, explaining how knowing his opponent’s timing was key to him claiming the win in that match. In the caption, he said:

“You win battles by knowing the enemy’s timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.”

The clip showed the Brazilian star picking his spots and studying the rhythm of his opponent throughout their matchup. His patience led him to find openings for strikes while they were on their feet while avoiding significant damage.

As he heads into battle against a fighter bred in the famed Team Lakay gym that is known for its world-renowned striking, Fernandes will certainly need to utilize this skill in order to come away with a victory at ONE on Prime Video 4 in Manila, Philippines.

All Amazon Prime Video subscribers will get to see the event live and for free on US primetime on November 18.

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Bibiano Fernandes looking to gauge Stephen Loman’s skills

Bibiano Fernandes may be coming in as the more seasoned fighter at ONE on Prime Video 4, but he’s not about to take his opponent lightly.

While he understands his strengths and advantages against his Filipino foe, Fernandes believes that ‘The Sniper’ may have also worked on his known weaknesses to prepare for their showdown. In an interview with ONE Championship, ‘The Flash’ said:

“I’m sure my grappling is far superior to his grappling. I’m sure he’s working hard not to be taken down, but I’m prepared and focused for this fight. I’m training a lot on my striking and my ground game. I’m going to test his grappling, his wrestling, and his striking. I’m sure I’ll have a good fight against him. If he messes up, I’ll finish him.”

Given this warning, Stephen Loman needs to be nothing short of perfect if he wants to overcome a fully motivated Bibiano Fernandes in their upcoming matchup. With the state of the bantamweight division in flux right now, the winner of this upcoming matchup could be the next challenger for the ONE bantamweight world title.