Home/Article

ONE Bantamweight World Champion Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade has never been shy about criticizing his opponents, and he’s setting his sights on his next potential foe. The brash Brazilian believes #2-ranked bantamweight contender Stephen “The Sniper” Loman will be the first challenger to his reign, given that the Team Lakay standout has risen swiftly through the stacked division, and he doesn’t feel fazed by that prospect. 

“He’s a guy who doesn’t do much. He’s not very good at striking. He’s not very good at jiu-jitsu. He’s a guy who ties up the fight well. He is very strong physically, so he ties up the fight well. That’s why he makes some pretty boring fights. But I don’t think he poses any danger to me,” Andrade told ONE Championship.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Both Fabricio Andrade and Stephen Loman will be high on confidence after previous wins

On December 2021, “The Sniper” announced his arrival in the Singapore-based promotion by ending Yusup Saadulaev’s three-bout winning streak with an impressive first-round TKO. He followed that win up by taking out another combat sports veteran in Shoko Sato mere months later to show the world he meant business. 

Loman notched up his most impressive victory yet in his latest outing in ONE last November, however, when he outclassed former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes to score a dominant unanimous decision win.

READ MORE – “You Don’t Need to Take Shortcuts to Be a Champion” – Mikey Musumeci Lauded ONE Championship’s Endeavor to Eradicate PED Usage in Martial Arts

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The 27-year-old displayed an evolved ground game to shut down any threat from his BJJ black belt foe, putting him in prime position to challenge for the World Title next. Meanwhile, Andrade tore through the bantamweight division on his way to earning its top prize. An ill-placed knee ruled his first World Title bout with then-World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker as a no-contest last October, but he left no one in doubt when the rematch went down in February.

Fabricio Andrade predicted a knockout victory for himself in this touted matchup

“Wonder Boy” inflicted major damage on his compatriot throughout the bout, and he left the referee with little choice but to stop proceedings and hand him the win in the fourth round. Now sitting on the divisional throne, Andrade is hungry for his next challenge. Though there hasn’t been any confirmation of a fight with Loman yet, he is already sure about how a meeting between them would go.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

READ MORE – ONE Championship Stars Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Prajanchai PK Saenchai Are Geared Up for Their Interim Strawweight Muay Thai World Title Bout at ONE Friday Fights 22

“I think the prediction for this fight is pretty simple,” the 25-year-old superstar said. “We know Loman is going to try to put me down, and I’m going to defend the takedowns. I’m going to keep the fight standing, and in striking, he doesn’t pose any danger to me. So it will only be a matter of time before I can knock him out.”