ONE champion Bibiano Fernandes a free agent on 1/1

Back in 2012, it was announced that Bibiano Fernandes had signed with the UFC. At the time he was on a three-fight win streak. ThenFernandes announced that he had signed instead with ONE Championship. The next year won the league’s bantamweight championship, and he has held it since.

Now Fernandes is on a 12-fight win streak, with five successful title defenses. And at age 36, he’s about to become a free agent.

My contract expires on Dec. 30, said Fernandes to Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting. I haven’t spoken with (ONE) yet. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do next.

I fought for free in the past, for the challenge, but I’m over this now, I have proved who I am and what I can do. If someone gives me the opportunity to face the best challenges, and it makes sense financially for me, I’ll definitely go there. I had a lot of tough fights here, but fighting elsewhere without a good paycheck is not worth it. I just broke my nose, man. I’m not fighting just to fight. I’m over this phase.”

If I’m just a fighter, I’m sorry, it’s not worth it. I want to be able to take care of my health, my nose and my brain, take care of myself, and be able to provide to my family. Many fighters fight as fans, but not me. I’m a fighter, I’m a professional, and there’s this side of the sport nobody sees. I have to be careful with my decision. I’m fine now, but I might not be tomorrow. Something might pop up in my brain tomorrow, we never know.