Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Mixed Martial Arts

De Ridder has edge over Bigdash, says Folayang


ONE Championship will have a busy few weeks ahead, starting with ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash on 22 July at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Two-division ONE World Champion Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder defends his middleweight strap against Vitaly Bigdash in the main event of the said card, meaning two of the hottest fighters in the Circle will be battling it out for divisional supremacy.

One of the men who can’t wait for that match is former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, who’s in fan mode while preparing for his next assignment in The Home of Martial Arts.

“I’m just training while waiting for the upcoming events. I’m excited for them. We have a great lineup ahead this July and August. So that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Folayang said.

Folayang sees this match going to De Ridder because of “The Dutch Knight’s” amazing ground prowess and size, which has overwhelmed most of his middleweight opponents.

In 15 bouts, no one has been able to solve the De Ridder riddle. Moreover, the Dutchman holds 11 submission wins.

Should the match hit the ground, Folayang knows it won’t be long before De Ridder dominates.

“I think it’s still going to be De Ridder. Looking at his reach advantage and his technical brilliance on the ground, I think he still has the edge,” Folayang said.

The strategy for Bigdash is pretty simple as well – avoid the ground at all costs.

While the Russian is an exceptional grappler in his own right, owning six submission wins and having never been submitted, Folayang knows that Bigdash is better off striking with the Combat Brothers star instead of taking a gamble on the canvas.

#ReadMore  Olsen Racela tells Tamaraws: 'Nabigyan kami ng biyaya so dapat lubusin namin'

“If Bigdash keeps this fight on the feet, he’ll get the advantage,” Folayang said.

“He has great striking, so if he can keep it there, he’ll have a good chance to win. On the ground, he’s no pushover as well, although De Ridder is definitely more technical when it comes to the ground.”

Read More From ONE Championship:           

Written By


You May Also Like

Mixed Martial Arts

Joshua Pacio is in stable condition after suffering a head spike and losing consciousness on Friday evening during his rematch against Jarred Brooks at...

Mixed Martial Arts

Lions Nation MMA is gearing up for a pivotal juncture that will determine the trajectory of this startup stable. Joshua Pacio — one of...

Boxing

Eduard Folayang and the rest of Lions Nation MMA are throwing their unequivocal support behind Marlon Tapales in his quest to make history as...

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Proficiency in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is often considered a cornerstone for success in mixed martial arts, and Prof. Gibran Langbayan is ecstatic about the recent...

Mixed Martial Arts

Eduard Folayang recently found himself back in the winner’s circle, and he’s not planning to take a break anytime soon. Following his victory at...

Mixed Martial Arts

At last weekend’s ONE Fight Night 14, Eduard Folayang emerged as the hero that Lions Nation MMA desperately needed. The 39-year-old Baguio City native...

Mixed Martial Arts

Eduard Folayang couldn’t have scripted a more perfect way to clinch his first win in nearly four years, delivering a finish that deserves a...

Mixed Martial Arts

Eduard Folayang believes that his sensational victory over Amir Khan last weekend would not have been possible without the help of Honorio Banario. The...

Advertisement