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 battle.

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 may propel him to a possible showdown with ONE bantamweight world champion John Lineker.

The no.3-ranked bantamweight mentioned he expects to placed on an analogous and even an identical 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 battle was given to us on brief discover, I’m nonetheless targeted and I need to win in a formidable method. I need to get into my vary and I’ll search for a knockout as a result of I used to be motivated by my first battle after I gained by KO. I simply should 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 superb within the floor in order that’s what we’ve got 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 obtained a style of the facility of the Group 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 battle.

Whereas the Filipino is using a nine-fight profitable streak stretching again to 2016, Sato’s kind is as harmful because it will get with the Japanese fighter having gained seven of his final eight — his newest victory coming through 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 battle in ONE Championship to be in opposition to no.2 contender Kwon Received Il, however a battle 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 prefer to battle him as a result of he’s the longest-reigning champion. I’m sport with that as a result of it’s a possibility to see the place I’m at proper now and I’m certain that I’ll take so many classes from it,” mentioned Loman.

“I’m completely satisfied that I used to be added to the 10-year anniversary present and hopefully they’ll give me a title battle sooner or later, however for now I’ll do my finest in my battle in opposition to Sato. Perhaps after that, I can ask them for a shot.”

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