Pictured: The closest Fernandes has come to landing a punch in the UFC.
After an astonishing 0-0 run in the UFC, it looks like Bibiano Fernandes already has a new home.
It’s being reported by MMAFighting.com that the former DREAM bantamweight champion has inked a deal with ONE FC and is set to make his promotional debut at an August 31 show in Manila, Philippines. An opponent has not been specified at this time.
For those of you keeping score, Bibiano Fernandes was initially set to make his UFC debut against Roland Delorme at UFC 149. However, after an injury sidelined Fernandes, Bibiano claimed to have never inked a deal with the UFC in the first place. In other words, we might not want to put too much stock in this signing until we actually see him in the cage on August 31.
Fernandes isn’t the only staple of the Japanese MMA scene to sign on with ONE FC. The promotion is also rumored to have signed former DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, who will also be making his promotional debut on this card. At this point, if DREAM isn’t actually dead, it might as well be.
Barring an injury curse the likes of which we haven’t seen since UFC 149, ONE FC’s Manila card is shaping up to be one hell of a follow-up to last weekend’s already entertaining efforts. Aside from the promotional debuts of Fernandes and Aoki, Renato “Babalu” Sobral is also scheduled to appear on this card.
We’ll keep you up to date as more information becomes available about this card.