Decision To Sign With ONE FC Versus The UFC Was All Business For Bibiano Fernandes

It came as a bit of a surprise this past week to hear that reigning DREAM bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes (11-3) had signed with the Asian based ONE Fighting Championship promotion instead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Many expected Fernandes to sign with the World’s top promotion, including the UFC itself who announced his signing […]

Bibiano Fernandes weighing in for DREAM bantamweight Grand Prix in Japan

It came as a bit of a surprise this past week to hear that reigning DREAM bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes (11-3) had signed with the Asian based ONE Fighting Championship promotion instead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Many expected Fernandes to sign with the World’s top promotion, including the UFC itself who announced his signing even before the last DREAM 135-lbs champion had even agreed to the sign the contract the Las Vegas based company had presented him.

Fernandes has now officially signed with ONE FC and is expected to make his debut on August 31st at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines versus an unnamed opponent.

‘The Flash’ recently spoke to Tatame.com about signing with ONE FC, noting that it was for “business” reasons versus his wanting to fight for the top organization.

There was a surprise when UFC announced you signed in for the Canada event but days latter it was announced they let you go. Days later you said you didn’t even sign that same contract. What really happened?
Apart from family, it’d be a great opportunity for (myself), but when you put the family in the picture it’s not worth it. I don’t fight for me. I have people who rely on me. I’ve built what I had to build in MMA. It can be many people’s dream to fight in the UFC, but it ain’t mine. It’s all business to me. I’ve dreamed about being a champion, I earned three belts: one in Canada and two in Japan. If you have a dream, keep dreaming. If you want to fight, keep on trying. But this I’ll tell you: worship yourself otherwise nobody else will. And it’s not only on the fighting business, but in everything in life. People use you, use you, use you and then throw you away like garbage.

What are the expectations for your One FC debut?
I’ve fought all my life in Japan. Most of my fans live there. I guess One FC is just an extension of Dream. It’s not Dream, but the guys there have been helping one another at One FC. If you really look at it, you’ll see the guys that used to work on Dream here.