Stephen Loman joins the many who feel Gantumur Bayanduuren should have just tapped

ONE bantamweight contender Stephen Loman believes Gantumur Bayanduuren would have been better off tapping out in his ONE Fight Night 6 on Prime Video match against Mikey Musumeci.

Bayanduuren stepped into the circle earlier this month with the chance to dethrone submission grappling sensation Mikey Musumeci and become the ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion. Instead, Bayanduuren found himself in a world of pain as Musumeci worked his leg for a significant portion of their submission showdown. Clearly in pain, Bayanduuren, never once even considered tapping out.

As a result, Bayanduuren suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus in addition to breaking his ankle. Sharing his take on Bayanduuren’s toughness, Stephen Loman said:

“Of course, if I feel there’s no escape and there’s no choice left but to tap, I would. I wouldn’t want to risk breaking my limbs, I definitely don't want to shatter my leg. That would take several months of recovery, months where you can’t fight. You can’t even walk. You’re just sitting there and waiting for what your doctor tells you to do.”

It was Mikey Musumeci’s third straight win inside the circle and his first defense of the ONE flyweight submission grappling world title since capturing it against Cleber Sousa at ONE on Prime Video 2 in September.

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Stephen Loman is likely next in line for a bantamweight title opportunity.

Undefeated in the circle, Stephen Loman is likely the next man in line for a shot at the ONE bantamweight world championship. With an overall record of 17-2, ‘The Sniper’ earned the biggest win of his career in November when he bested former bantamweight king and ONE legend Bibiano Fernandes.

Former ONE bantamweight world champion John ‘Hands of Stone’ Lineker took notice of Loman’s impressive performance against Fernandes and believes ‘The Sniper’ is now the next man in line for a world title opportunity:

“I saw that fight and he had a great performance against Bibiano Fernandes... Stephen Loman is a very versatile guy, a very tough fighter. He's a guy who goes to fight. I'm sure he will be the next challenger for the title.”

Before Stephen Loman gets his chance, John Lineker will square off with No. 1 bantamweight contender Fabricio Andrade to crown a new ONE world champion in the main event of ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video on February 24. The event is live and free in North America via Prime Video.