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Stephen Loman has emerged as the clear No.1 contender in the bantamweight division once the world championship fight at ONE on Prime Video 7 is wrapped up.
In February, John Lineker and Fabricio Andrade will face off in a rematch following their fight at ONE on Prime Video 3.
In their first meeting, the world championship was left vacant after Lineker was stripped of his title for missing weight and the fight itself ended in a no-contest following an unintentional foul by Andrade.
Whilst Andrade and Lineker look to settle the score, Stephen Loman picked up the biggest win of his career to date by overcoming Bibiano Fernandes at ONE on Prime Video 4.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Loman gave his initial take on the title fight in his division, pointing out the danger that Fabricio Andrade brings and how it played into 'Wonder Boy's' first fight with Lineker:
“Fabricio Andrade is so dangerous. As we all saw in that first fight, the step through knee is his biggest weapon. I believe John Lineker needs to find a way to defend that, or he’s in trouble.”
The Team Lakay fighter has gone 3-0 inside the circle since arriving in ONE Championship at the end of last year.
He will be waiting for the winner to emerge at ONE on Prime Video 7 so that he can try to accomplish his dream of becoming a world champion.
Jhanlo Sangiao and Stephen Loman praised by Chatri Sityodtong
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong has praised Team Lakay fighters Jhanlo Sangiao and Stephen Loman. The two Filipino fighters are seen as the next generation coming out of the legendary Team Lakay gym.
Both Sangiao and Loman have put together impressive runs in ONE Championship, dominating all of their opponents to go on unbeaten runs.
Jhanlo Sangiao, the son of the team’s founder Mark Sangiao, put on another impressive showing at ONE 164 last weekend. ‘The Machine’ earned a performance bonus for his rear-naked choke finish over promotional newcomer Anacleto Lauron.
In his post-event media scrum following ONE’s double bill of events in Manila, Chatri Sityodtong spoke about the new generation of Team Lakay fighters:
"It does look like that there’s a passing of the torch, but if you look at Filipino MMA at the world’s highest level, a guy like Jhanlo, a guy like Stephen Loman, these are killers. And if that’s the next generation, I’m telling you, the future of the Philippines is gonna produce world champions once again, no doubt."
Stephen Loman finds himself a few steps ahead of Sangiao as the leading contender that Team Lakay has. ‘The Sniper’ has produced a three-fight win streak since debuting in ONE Championship last year. By defeating former bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes at ONE on Prime Video 4, he has put himself in a position to challenge for the world title after John Lineker and Fabricio Andrade settle their business in February.
Both Loman and Jhanlo Sangiao are leading the way for Team Lakay with the two set for a big 2023.
