“I’m thankful for having a chance to face difficult opponents” - Stephen Loman relishes facing ONE’s top stars

At ONE on Prime Video 4, ‘The Sniper’ Stephen Loman will face his biggest challenge to date in the circle. On November 18 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Loman will face former two-time bantamweight world champion Bibiano Fernandes.

Stephen Loman is currently 2-0 since signing with ONE Championship, defeating Yusup Saadulaev on his debut and Shoko Sato last time out in March. Bibiano Fernandes will be a big step-up in competition for the Team Lakay fighter.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Loman said that he was grateful to get the opportunity to face someone of Fernandes’ stature:

“I’m thankful for having a chance to face difficult opponents in all my fights here in ONE Championship. Yusup [Saadulaev] was on a different level, and so was Shoko Sato, and those experiences helped me see my own weaknesses and work on them. The level of competition is that much higher in ONE Championship, so I need to step up my own game to make sure that I’m right up there with the top guys.”

He added:

“I’m sure it will be a whole different level when I face Bibiano, and of course, the [former] champion, John Lineker. I need to go all-out in training and really keep my focus because I’m so close to reaching the top of the division.”

Stephen Loman will be Bibiano Fernandes’ first fight back inside the circle since losing his bantamweight world championship to John Lineker earlier this year.

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Stephen Loman bummed out with no contest finish of Andrade vs. Lineker

ONE bantamweight contender Stephen Loman finds himself on the cusp of a world title shot if he is able to win his next fight. At ONE on Prime Video 4, Loman will face Bibiano Fernandes in a potential title eliminator.

It is unclear who Loman will face if he is successful against Fernandes due to the world championship currently being vacant. The gold was scheduled to be put on the line at ONE on Prime Video 3, but after John Lineker missed weight and the fight ended in a no contest, it is without an owner.

John Lineker v.s Fabricio Andrade came to a disappointing end following an unintentional foul by Andrade, who put on an impressive performance before the fight was waved off.

Loman, currently ranked No. 5 at bantamweight, shares the views of the fans in being disappointed by the outcome, but also disappointed for the fighters. He told The MMA Super-Fan in an interview:

"From what I’ve observed on Lineker, especially with a broken cup, that really has to hurt. Andrade prepared that knee strike well, he really put everything he had on that knee strike, but it was really unfortunate that it was an accidental low blow."

Catch the interview below: