ONE Championship: Alain Ngalani in talks for Vitor Belfort dream fight – ‘it would be an honour’
- ‘The Panther’ is itching to return to action, and reveals talks with ONE boss Chatri over fighting MMA legend Belfort
- ‘This is a once in a lifetime thing, it would be a pleasure for me and a huge fight to have with him’
Alain Ngalani has been out of the ONE Championship circle for over a year. But when he returns, he looking to make a big impact.
“The Panther” told the Post he was all set for what would’ve been the biggest fight of his career – with MMA legend Vitor Belfort in the frame – before the coronavirus pandemic.
The 44-year-old was speaking in an interview from his Hong Kong home, where he will take part in an Instagram Live Q&A on Friday showcasing some exercise techniques, as part of ONE Championship’s efforts to promote the Together At Home initiative in partnership with Global Citizen.
The initiative will feature a series of online no-contact music concerts on Sunday, including appearances by Lady GaGa, Elton John and John Legend, which ONE is streaming on its Facebook Live and Super App, to help raise funds to battle the Covid-19 crisis.
“Well, I had a call from Chatri at the beginning of the year, and we were preparing for what he said was the biggest fight for me, the biggest of the year,” Ngalani said. “It was to be announced, but then because of the virus everything has been on hold.
“Otherwise I was in the middle of my training already. I recovered from my injuries, now what’s gonna come out I’m still waiting, but it’s not my call to choose who I’m fighting.
“I’m waiting for the big boss to decide. What I have to do is just do my part and stay in fighting shape.”
Ngalani (4-5), who competes in ONE’s heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, has not fought since a March 2019 TKO defeat by Mauro Cerilli, but is looking to get back on track with a dream fight against former UFC champion Belfort.
“I don’t really want to mention it right now because it’s still under negotiation, so I don’t want to throw it out there, but there has been talk for me first to go into a super fight,” he said. “There’s a few names. Among others, we have Vitor Belfort who is a megastar and it would be a pleasure for me and a huge fight for me to have with him. But nothing is sure yet.
“This is a once in a lifetime thing. Personally Vitor Belfort has been a megastar for me and a huge, huge, huge influence. It’s an honour if ever I have to cross him.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has put the brakes on ONE’s schedule. The promotion had to cancel several behind-closed-doors shows set for its home city Singapore this month, with May 29’s planned Infinity 1 card in Manila still up in the air.
“I think this fight would be further down the line, because in any case even if things finish [with the coronavirus] within a month, this event, if it’s a mega fight, it needs lot of promotion,” Ngalani said.
“You can’t just have it in a hurry. You have to promote the show. You need a bit of time. But our division, there’s a few names that still I haven’t crossed yet. It’s all open, there’s a lot of possibilities. All I have to do is just keep fit and stay healthy.”
