Hong Kong’s Alain Ngalani will return to the ONE Championship Circle in Singapore against Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane, but “The Panther” isn’t giving up on his dream fight with Vitor Belfort. Ngalani was set to fight the former UFC light heavyweight champ last year before the coronavirus pandemic took hold and played havoc with ONE’s schedule. The Asian organisation has still yet to figure out a way to get the two together in a ring, though, despite returning to action with its global shows last October. The 43-year-old Belfort (26-14), who lives and trains in Florida, signed with ONE in 2019 but is still waiting on his debut. “Yes, that is still on the table, it’s just taking more time than expected because of the situation,” Ngalani told SCMP MMA. “I understand. I asked the organisation to get me on a card just so I can be active in the meantime. because it’s been quite a while. I have now the opportunity to step in with my brother Oumar and that’s OK. I’m happy with it, I’m just excited as an athlete. “I didn’t get the sense that it was never gonna happen. I was seeing an interview with him, and seeing word coming from both sides showing willingness, so I was hopeful that it will happen. “But the situation has never really stopped, so I guess we have to just get on with it. The show must go on. I’m still hopeful it will go on because Vitor is still an athlete in ONE Championship.” ONE’s Meng says she‘ll ’surpass’ UFC’s Zhang; can beat her again The 45-year-old Ngalani (4-5) revealed he was originally expected to fight another opponent from England before being matched up with Kane, who himself was reportedly set to face 13-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and fellow ONE newcomer Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida in February. “He couldn’t make it because of the restrictions, so Oumar’s name came as the replacement and I just … when I saw his profile I thought it looks great,” Ngalani said. “I really enjoy watching Senegalese wrestling. He’s very famous in Africa so I was just excited to have someone from a different background and especially a brother from Africa to step in. I just thought if I have to give an opportunity to someone to showcase his talent also, Oumar is the man.” Ngalani went viral in his home city of Hong Kong last year for preventing an unmasked passenger from taking a seat on the MTR by doing the splits, saying “I’ve had enough of this coronavirus” after his fight with Belfort was scratched. The four-time Muay Thai world champion’s Impakt gym in Sheung Wan is still closed, meaning he has had to get creative with his training for his fight with Kane. “Everything is closed, the gym has been closed, we are all under the quarantine laws,” Ngalani said. “Preparation, we deal with what we have at home, go to the park and do what we can. “It hasn’t been easy. You just get to the point where I’m just restless and I just feel like I’m stuck somewhere.”