Ngalani Promises A ‘Crazy Performance’ Against Belfort
Alain “The Panther” Ngalani is thrilled that he’ll welcome Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort to ONE Championship when the action resumes inside the Circle in 2020.
An explosive bout between the two formidable strikers had been talked about for a long time, and it will become a reality at some point later this year.
The Hong Kong resident had remained tight-lipped about the battle, but with the news now out in the open, he no longer has to contain his excitement about squaring off with a mixed martial arts superstar.
“This is a fight that has been in the making for a while now — I’ve been focused so much on it that I’ve just forgotten about everything else,” Ngalani admits.
“I can’t wait until it finally happens. Vitor has been a great athlete and a great champion in his career. He is a fantastic fighter, and that has motivated me to come back to the stage.
“Fighting such a person brings out the fire in me, and I like that!”
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Belfort is one of the most iconic athletes in mixed martial arts history. He was a pioneer of the sport in the 1990s, and he continued to enjoy success at the highest level in North America until he retired in 2018.
However, ONE’s passion for true martial arts lured the Brazilian back, and “The Panther” cannot wait to face off against a true legend of the game.
“I have a lot of respect for Vitor. He has done tremendous things during his career,” Ngalani says.
“All fighters know we have moments in our career where things don’t go our way. We have losses or pass a negative tunnel, and for me, I have more respect for him seeing him still in the game and not quitting.
“He is still strong and still a role model to people.”
The clash of styles between the two strikers will certainly make this an intriguing ONE Championship debut for “The Phenom.”
Ngalani is a four-time kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion. He is also the proud owner of some of the most spectacular highlight-reel moments recorded in The Home Of Martial Arts.
“The Panther” finished Mahmoud Hassan with a spinning kick in his promotional debut at ONE: CHAMPIONS & WARRIORS in September 2013.
He also produced the fastest finish in the heavyweight division’s history when he knocked out Hideki “Shrek” Sekine in just 11 seconds at ONE: TOTAL VICTORY in September 2017.
Like the Hong Kong hulk, Belfort possesses a vast array of tools to choose from along with incredible KO power. Ngalani knows that impressive skill set will bring out the best in both of them.
“It will be an awesome fight, and I think that the fans will love to watch it,” he says. “It makes sense at this point in ONE Championship, and I think I can pull off a very good fight.”
Even with all his admiration for Belfort, Ngalani is not just planning to be part of the “Vitor Show” when the Brazilian makes his bow in The Home Of Martial Arts.
While “The Phenom’s” reputation will bring a lot of eyeballs to their battle, “The Panther” is in it to win it.
In fact, the Impakt Academy owner hasn’t been this motivated to compete for a long time, and he is raring to make an impression when the heavy-hitters collide inside the Circle.
“I know that when I am focused I can do great things. I can put on a show, a crazy performance, and a fantastic fight for the fans,” Ngalani says.
“And you know what? I am focused right now. This Vitor fight has fired me up. I’m very excited about it.”
Read more: Train Like An Athlete: Alain Ngalani
