One FC champ Bibiano Fernandes: Dae Hwan Kim is dangerous, but ‘not a talented guy’

Bibiano Fernandes puts his One FC bantamweight title on the line for the second time Friday, Dec. 5, against undefeated Dae Hwan Kim. Seven years older than the South Korean prospect, the Brazilian grappler expects anything at Philippines’ One FC 23.

“He’s a dangerous kid, and considering him a dangerous guy is good for me because I’m literally expecting anything in the fight,” Fernandes told MMAFighting.com. “I never expect an easy fight. He’s dangerous. He has some good leg kicks and is explosive.

“That kid is good. His jiu-jitsu is good, he has some submissions, but I’m ready. I train everything. Anything he does, I will find a way to win.”

Kim is 10-0-1 in MMA with five submission victories, but Fernandes, a multiple time jiu-jitsu champion, will be surprised if Kim tries to grapple with him at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I have a friend who lives in South Korea and he texted me saying that (Kim) said in an interview that he wants to stand with me, and also take me down,” Fernandes said. “I said ‘brother, I already expected that’. He will try to keep it standing and knock me out. I will be surprised if he tries to take me down, actually, but I’m training for everything. I’m expecting everything from this kid.”

Despite having five submission wins in MMA, Kim’s jiu-jitsu “isn’t great”, according to Fernandes.

“He’s not a talented guy,” Fernandes said. “He’s good, that kid is good, he’s aggressive and explosive and does everything to win. He has a good jiu-jitsu, but it’s not a great jiu-jitsu. His muay thai is better than his jiu-jitsu. He also has a good takedown defense, but his takedowns aren’t good.”

To finish his training camp, Fernandes once again moved to the United States to train with UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

“I finish my camps here with Demetrious Johnson since 2009,” he said. “I was still fighting at DREAM when I first trained here. We help each other a lot. He’s doing great in the UFC, and we help each other all the time. It’s great to have him training with me.”

Fighting twice a year since signing with One FC, “The Flash” believes that’s the best move for his career and health.

“Sometimes I wish I could fight more, but it’s also good to wait and take care of my body,” he said. “I’m a fighter and I want to fight all the time, but I have to be smart. For an example, look what happened to (former UFC bantamweight champion) Renan Barao. Your body can’t handle it.”

“I think that fighting twice a year is good,” he added. “If I can fight three times in one year, great, I can do it, but I have to think about my body and my health. If I want to compete for years, I have to slow down. We get hit too many times, so I have to be careful.”

Bibiano Fernandes puts his One FC bantamweight title on the line for the second time Friday, Dec. 5, against undefeated Dae Hwan Kim. Seven years older than the South Korean prospect, the Brazilian grappler expects anything at Philippines’ One FC 23.

“He’s a dangerous kid, and considering him a dangerous guy is good for me because I’m literally expecting anything in the fight,” Fernandes told MMAFighting.com. “I never expect an easy fight. He’s dangerous. He has some good leg kicks and is explosive.

“That kid is good. His jiu-jitsu is good, he has some submissions, but I’m ready. I train everything. Anything he does, I will find a way to win.”

Kim is 10-0-1 in MMA with five submission victories, but Fernandes, a multiple time jiu-jitsu champion, will be surprised if Kim tries to grapple with him at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I have a friend who lives in South Korea and he texted me saying that (Kim) said in an interview that he wants to stand with me, and also take me down,” Fernandes said. “I said ‘brother, I already expected that’. He will try to keep it standing and knock me out. I will be surprised if he tries to take me down, actually, but I’m training for everything. I’m expecting everything from this kid.”

Despite having five submission wins in MMA, Kim’s jiu-jitsu “isn’t great”, according to Fernandes.

“He’s not a talented guy,” Fernandes said. “He’s good, that kid is good, he’s aggressive and explosive and does everything to win. He has a good jiu-jitsu, but it’s not a great jiu-jitsu. His muay thai is better than his jiu-jitsu. He also has a good takedown defense, but his takedowns aren’t good.”

To finish his training camp, Fernandes once again moved to the United States to train with UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

“I finish my camps here with Demetrious Johnson since 2009,” he said. “I was still fighting at DREAM when I first trained here. We help each other a lot. He’s doing great in the UFC, and we help each other all the time. It’s great to have him training with me.”

Fighting twice a year since signing with One FC, “The Flash” believes that’s the best move for his career and health.

“Sometimes I wish I could fight more, but it’s also good to wait and take care of my body,” he said. “I’m a fighter and I want to fight all the time, but I have to be smart. For an example, look what happened to (former UFC bantamweight champion) Renan Barao. Your body can’t handle it.”

“I think that fighting twice a year is good,” he added. “If I can fight three times in one year, great, I can do it, but I have to think about my body and my health. If I want to compete for years, I have to slow down. We get hit too many times, so I have to be careful.”