The MMA world is a cauldron of fiery ambition, grit, and ever-evolving narratives. Among its stars, Stephen Loman is emerging not just as a formidable fighter but also as a voice hard to ignore. He has been clear about his goals and his readiness for the ONE bantamweight MMA world title shot. His stance is so emphatic that he believes others should make way for him. Stephen recently made headlines when he declared, “John Lineker should step aside.”
This statement was a response to John Lineker’s recent performance. Known to his fans and foes alike as ‘Hands of Stone’, Lineker rebounded from his world championship loss in an impressive manner. On August 4, at ONE Fight Night 13, he displayed exceptional skill and grit to knock out Kim Jae Woong. This win put him back into contention for a title shot, but Loman’s consistent performances make him feel it should be his moment now.
Representing Team Lakay, Stephen Loman is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. Holding a sterling 3-0 ONE Championship record, he has been consistent and dominant. Speaking with The MMA Superfan, Loman discussed the shifting dynamics and Lineker’s position. He said, “I think when he lost, his rank dropped down the rankings a bit while mine kept going up because I kept winning. I think he will set aside first so that I can fight Andrade next. If I’d have things go my way, then John Lineker should step aside first.”
Loman’s journey in the ONE Championship has been nothing short of a spectacle. His debut in December 2021 left fans and critics buzzing when he took down Yusup Saadulaev with a blistering first-round knockout. Not one to rest on his laurels, he returned with a vengeance in March 2022 to clinch a unanimous decision victory over Shoko Sato. Then in November, fans witnessed another masterclass when Loman clinched victory against Bibiano Fernandes.
While he may be the top contender in many eyes, the path to the title is filled with challenges. In the immediate future, all eyes will be glued to the upcoming clash on October 6. This is when Fabricio Andrade, the reigning bantamweight MMA champion, will lock horns with Jonathan Haggerty, the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion. Set for ONE Fight Night 15, this champion vs. champion duel promises to be electric. It’s a battle for the vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title, and for North American Prime Video subscribers, it’s an event not to be missed.
Amidst this charged environment, Kevin ‘The Silencer’ Belingon, a luminary in the MMA world and former ONE bantamweight world champion, weighed in with his thoughts. He is no stranger to Loman, having trained with him extensively.
In a chat with The MMA Superfan, Belingon shared, “Stephen is a complete fighter. I believe he can take on Andrade. It’s all about getting a good training program and the people that he’s training with. They have to pressure Stephen, push him to his limit, just so when he reaches the fight, he’ll be ready.”
Combat sports are unique in the sense that preparation is as mental as it is physical. The age-old saying “iron sharpens iron” rings particularly true in this domain. Stephen Loman, with his brilliant track record, is
