Vera targets another crown versus Aung

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning ONE heavyweight king Brandon Vera is going down to the light heavy class to challenge the division’s top dog Aung La N Sang of Myanmar in ONE: Century on Oct. 13 in Tokyo, Japan, hoping to complete his quest to possess two belts.

Vera, who got the monicker “The Truth” when he started in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has carried it ever since, announced his intention to hold two championships at ONE: A New Era also in Tokyo in March, which was interpreted as an indirect challenge to Aung.

And ONE chairman Chatri Sityodtong is not one to deny Vera the enticing showdown he craves versus Aung.

Vera, who owns a 16-7 (win-loss) record, has ruled the division since jumping from UFC to ONE after winning all of his four fights in the first round.

Against Aung, who has a 24-10 slate, Vera could be truly tested.

The Vera-Aung showdown is booked in the explosive card that will mark the 100th card of ONE since its inception eight years ago.

The card is so stacked that most, if not all, fights will stake championships.

It will include the bantamweight duel between Kevin Belingon and Brazilian Bibiano Fernandes, the fourth time the two face each other in the ring.

Belingon will try to redeem himself from his controversial defeat to Fernandes after the Team Lakay bet was disqualified due to illegal strikes to the back of the latter’s head.

But Sityodtong has found the strikes to be unintentional and ordered another showdown.

Also listed in the card is the bout between ONE atomweight titlist Angela Lee of Singapore and Xiong Jing Nan of China.

Also in the blockbuster card are championship matches in lightweight, flyweight Grand Prix and featherweight kickboxing.