Bibiano Fernandes has “no idea” why ONE Championship has not offered him a fight in nearly two years. The Asian promotion’s bantamweight champion has not fought since settling his rivalry with Kevin Belingon via a second-round rear-naked choke at ONE: Century Part II in Tokyo in October, 2019. The 41-year-old Brazilian (24-4) said his attempts to talk to ONE have gone unanswered and that he fears he may never fight in the organisation again. “I’ve been trying to speak with ONE for almost two years now, trying to figure out what’s going on,” Fernandes told SCMP MMA. “I’ve been training, I’m ready to fight. I’ve tried texting them saying, ‘Hey guys, I wanna go fight’. I’m here waiting for ONE Championship. I don’t hear nothing back from these guys. “I tried my best. I want to come back but something is holding me back. I have no idea what it is. I try talking with everybody out there, brother, trust me. I try so hard, you have no idea. It doesn’t make sense. “I said, ‘Guys, what’s going on? When am I gonna fight again?’ They said, ‘Wait a little bit’. A guy who works for me tried talking to ONE Championship, but it’s [expletive] hard man.” ONE: Bi Nguyen laughs off Ritu Phogat fans’ claims of ‘robbery’ Fernandes, who lives in Vancouver, said he has not been restricted from travelling to Singapore from Canada because of Covid-19, nor has he had any injuries preventing him from fighting. “I’ve had no offers for a fight,” he said. “I’m waiting for ONE to come back and deal with me. I don’t want to go to a different team because I’m a very respectful guy. I don’t want to create drama, that’s the way I live. I have to keep going and find a way to provide for my family, to feed my kids. I have a private class now, I teach jiu-jitsu. “I’m so glad you guys remember me. I’m serious, I’m very thankful.” Fernandes has a ready-made title challenger in fellow Brazilian John Lineker, the former UFC star who has quickly bulldozed his way to a 3-0 record in ONE, finishing former champ Belingon, of the Philippines, and American Troy Worthen. “He could be [next], but you never know what plans these guys have, ” Fernandes said. “In my opinion he has to challenge himself a little bit, have two more fights or whatever. But if he wins his next one … “I don’t pick a guy. Maybe it could be Kevin one more time, I have no idea.” Fernandes admitted he feels ONE is not keen to push their Brazilian talent, including flyweight champion Adriano Moraes, and are more interested in promoting Asian stars like his previous opponents, Belingon and Martin Nguyen, the former featherweight champion. “One hundred per cent, why I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t talk only myself. Look at Moraes, seven-time champion. Sometimes I don’t want to say something. I don’t like drama, that’s not me. But I like to say the truth and sometimes the truth hurts a little bit. “ONE Championship is great, it’s better than UFC. But UFC promotes Brazilians more, they push them. ONE Championship they don’t do it too much. I fight here for 10 years. “That’s [expletive]. I try so hard to understand the mentality. When I’m sitting here and begin to think – I’m the champion, I’m here from the beginning, defend my belt for 10 years. Maybe the market is not there [in Brazil]. They push so hard for Kevin to beat me. I try to explain this to people who don’t understand about the business. They say, ‘no, it’s not’. You want me to be quiet? Maybe I say something people don’t like.” Fernandes insisted he had personally reached out to ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong to discuss his situation but has received no response. “He never speaks with me, I try many times, trust me, I’m not joking,” he said. “But now, two years pass for my life, for my professional career. They put me on hold. “That’s scaring me right now. What happens if that’s the plan? ‘Let’s put this guy on hold for a little bit’. Maybe they will wait for a young guy to come along. ‘Let him get old, then we bring him back’. I really want the answers. I never know what’s going on on the other side. I try talking, I try texting, I try messaging but I don’t have no answer. For me that’s insane. ” Fernandes, who was courted by the UFC before choosing ONE Championship when he left Japanese promotion Dream in 2013, said he had an offer from another promotion six months ago. “I won’t say who the corporation is,” he said. “But they say, ‘Do you want to come fight?’ People text me, people ask me, a few of the athletes ask me, ‘Hey Bibiano, what’s going on?’ I don’t know. Call ONE Championship. “I may never have a chance to fight for ONE Championship again,” he added. “I don’t like to play games, psychology, I don’t like that s***. If you don’t want me, [expletive], tell me. Let’s move forward. You’re happy, I’m happy, good. I don’t like bulls***. “I have three kids, my wifehas not felt well for two years. I have to deal with my wife, with my kids, with my students. I don’t know where my future will go, for now. I don’t think it’s right, putting me on hold for two years.”