By:  | June 3, 2022 9:39 am

Fabricio Andrade faces Kwon Won Il at ONE 158 tonight. The Brazilian wants a shot at the title but thinks this is a good matchup and believes the winner will be in pole position for a shot at the belt.

He told AsianMMA.com that he wanted a title shot but is happy to have been handed a matchup with the #1 ranked bantamweight:

Intense staredown

Both men made weight but things got intense at the face offs. The two bantamweights went head to head and had top be separated by Ric Auty.

Kim has promised to shut Andrade up and the two bantamweights appeared on the verge of fighting one another there and then. The Brazilian could be clearly heard saying, ‘let’s go bro, let’s f***king go’.

Fortunately the two fighters were separated before the altercation got really physical. But they won’t have to wait too long to lay hands on each other.

 

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Eagerly anticipated

At ONE 158 tonight Andrade an Kwon finally meet inside the circle. The Brazilian has been very vocal about wanting a shot at the champion, be it Bibiano Fernandes or John Lineker.

But he also acknowledges that the Korean is a worthy opponent. Kwon, who will have a height advantage, is coming off a string of very impressive stoppage wins.

Kwon is coming off a second round stoppage win over Kevin Belingon. But Andrade does not sound too impressed and pointed out that the former bantamweight champion was on a long losing streak.

Pole position

Andrade also discussed training with Jose Aldo in Brazil. He is based long term at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket but returned to his homeland during the height of the pandemic.

The Brazilian also spent a couple of weeks at Marrok Force MMA in Bangkok and sounds impressed by what they are building there. For someone who is known as a trash talker he was not particularly outspoken on this ocassion.

But tonight the talking ends. Kwon and Andrade are facing off at ONE 157 and the winner will be in pole position for shot at the newly crowned bantamweight king John Lineker.