Winning a championship is one thing, defending it is a whole other animal
Five months after overcoming the legend that is Shinya Aoki, Eduard Folayang (17-5) will make his first defense of the coveted ONE Lightweight World Championship against Ev Ting (13-3). And with the match taking place as the main event of ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny, and in front of his compatriots, the 10-year veteran knows that there will be pressure mounting for this match-up.
“I am twice motivated in this upcoming fight,” Folayang said on Thursday afternoon during his face-off against Ting at the Top of the Citi in Makati City.
“Hindi naman talaga mawawala yung pressure especially dito sa Pilipinas gagawin, pero maganda naman kasi we learned our lessons in the past.”
Preparing to Defend
Compared to Ev Ting — who has been in the game for just six years — Folayang has seen it all in this grueling sport called mixed martial arts. He has experienced both the highs and the lows of the sport, including losing four of seven bouts, and has been part of both ends of highlight reels.
And the experiences that he has gained — and the lessons that come with them — are the main advantage he has over Ting, according to the 32-year-old.
“Isa sa pinaka-advantage ko is experience ko. I’ve been in those moments that I feel the pain of being a fighter and I’ve been in those times na na-enjoy ko yung prize ng pagiging isang fighter,” the proud son of Baguio City shared.
“Experience is one of the things I have as my advantage.”
Moreover, the reigning world champion has the luxury of having Edward Kelly and Honorio Banario in his stable. Though both fighters fell at the hands of the Malaysian challenger, they have helped Folayang simulate the fight style of Ting.
“May sinabi sila na si Edward [Kelly] kasi, high start noong kinalaban nya si Ev Ting. Si Honorio naman, nagpalit agad ng game plan.
“Sa akin, gusto ko mag-stick sa pinagaralan ko na game plan ko sa kanya. Ayokong magpalit agad. Yun ang tinitingnan ko na pagkakamali nila na ayaw ko ulitin, at ayoko rin maging overconfident na dahil alam ko yung hunger ng isang fighter na maging champion,” declared the 5-foot-7 lightweight.
Ready to Repeat
Unlike in his last fight against Aoki, Folayang will enter the bout as the overwhelming favorite to beat “E.T.” But for Folayang, the bookmakers’ odds tilted in his favor are just numbers, as he continues to live with an underdog mentality.
“Ayokong maging complacent kasi tinalo ko si Shinya. As an underdog, alam ko kung pano ka magutom para makuha yung title and I can see that yun din yung nasa mata ni Ev Ting ngayon,” Folayang reflected.
“Sa pagkakamali ni Shinya, doon din ako natuto. I don’t like to make the same mistake.”
With this mindset, Folayang shared that this bout is actually more important than his fight against Aoki. “Napaka-importante ng laban na ito,” he was quick to note.
“Winning the belt is one of the highlights, and maintaining it is one of the bigger challenges. I treat this fight as a very important one.”
But just as he has done all throughout his 23-fight career, Folayang vows to never change; still bringing the quiet confidence he has always had since starting at the age of 23.
“Prediction ang pinakamahirap ibigay sa isang laban but I always predict na I will win this fight,” he confessed.
