Stephen Loman believes knocking out Shoko Sato could lead to title shot against John Lineker
Stephen Loman’s debut in ONE Championship couldn’t have gone any higher as he knocked out Yusup Saadulaev within the first spherical of their bantamweight struggle. He now needs so as to add one other KO as he takes on former top-five contender Shoko Sato at ONE Championship’s 10-year anniversary present, ONE X, on March 26…
Stephen Loman’s debut in ONE Championship couldn’t have gone any higher as he knocked out Yusup Saadulaev within the first spherical of their bantamweight struggle.
He now needs so as to add one other KO as he takes on former top-five contender Shoko Sato at ONE Championship’s 10-year anniversary present, ONE X, on March 26 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
A victory for the ONE Championship newcomer might propel him to a possible showdown with ONE bantamweight world champion John Lineker.
The no.3-ranked bantamweight mentioned he expects to placed on the same and even similar efficiency to the one he confirmed in opposition to Saadulaev when he takes on the Japanese veteran in simply his second bout for the promotion.
Loman, in a digital press convention, mentioned:
“Even when this struggle was given to us on brief discover, I’m nonetheless targeted and I wish to win in a powerful means. I wish to get into my vary and I’ll search for a knockout as a result of I used to be motivated by my first struggle after I gained by KO. I simply need to focus and for for a KO,” mentioned Loman in Filipino.
“If I’ve an opportunity for a takedown, coach [Mark Sangiao] instructed me that I shouldn’t hesitate and we additionally noticed that Sato is excellent within the floor in order that’s what we have now to look out for as a result of he’s good at Jiu Jitsu. We all know his strengths so we’re searching for that.”
‘The Sniper’ (14-2) was already a bantamweight champion for BRAVE CF earlier than he signed with ONE Championship and it was Saadulaev who acquired a style of the facility of the Crew Lakay fighter.
Loman landed a crippling overhand left that shook the cobwebs out of the Russian’s head at 4:09 into the primary spherical of their struggle.
Whereas the Filipino is using a nine-fight profitable streak stretching again to 2016, Sato’s type is as harmful because it will get with the Japanese fighter having gained seven of his final eight — his newest victory coming by way of TKO when he stopped Yasuhiro Kawamura in 2021.
Loman needs Bibiano Fernandes if he will get the prospect
The 30-year-old from the Philippines initially anticipated his subsequent struggle in ONE Championship to be in opposition to no.2 contender Kwon Received Il, however a struggle in opposition to Sato, who was already within the high 5 earlier than, was a welcome problem.
Loman, although, admitted that if he doesn’t get a title shot, then he’s more than pleased to face former champion Bibiano Fernandes when the chance arises.
“Sure I’d wish to struggle him as a result of he’s the longest-reigning champion. I’m recreation with that as a result of it’s a possibility to see the place I’m at proper now and I’m positive that I’ll take so many classes from it,” mentioned Loman.
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“I’m blissful that I used to be added to the 10-year anniversary present and hopefully they’ll give me a title struggle sooner or later, however for now I’ll do my greatest in my struggle in opposition to Sato. Perhaps after that, I can ask them for a shot.”
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