Eduard Folayang is the only ONE fighter that remains active from the historic ONE FC: Champion vs Champion card back in September 3, 2011 in Kallang, Singapore.
Back then, a 26-year-old Folayang main evented the card against A Sol Kwon. He defeated the Korean via a thrilling unanimous decision win.
Since then, Folayang has competed 21 more times in The Home of Martial Arts. He has taken on legends and upstarts alike while winning the ONE Lightweight World Championship twice.
It definitely has been a long road for Folayang over the last 11 years.
“I’m so happy to be part of ONE X. After a decade, I’m still here,” said the now-37 year old native of Baguio City.
“It means that I really took care of myself to stay physically fit.”
On ONE X, though, Folayang won’t be competing in a mixed martial arts bout.
Instead, he will be facing John Wayne Parr in a Muay Thai match on March 26, 2022 still at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Though it will be his first bout in the art of eight limbs, it won’t be his first foray in it.
“Maybe you don’t know yet, but Eduard’s first sport was kickboxing before going to wushu.
“He added more skills to become an MMA fighter, but he became a two-time world champion because of his kickboxing and wushu base,” bared Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao.
Folayang knows that experience-wise, he lags way behind against Parr.
And even with all the things he has accomplished, the face of Philippine MMA still yearns for challenges.
“Fighting a legend before he retires is a big honor because he has been a Muay Thai champion at different divisions,” he said.
“I enjoy the challenge as a martial artist. The bigger the challenge, the more we are being pushed, and we see what we need to prepare for,” Folayang continued.
“I will be fighting him on his own territory. We’ll see how fast we can adjust in fighting Parr in his sport.”
