Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Mixed Martial Arts

Folayang focused on breaking curse of first title defense


ONE World Lightweight Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang (17-5) has a lot of things in common with Team Lakay comrade Honorio “The Rock” Banario, but one thing in particular has both of their names etched into the pages of history. They are the only two Filipino fighters to win MMA world titles under the ONE Championship banner.

ONE Championship, of course, is widely regarded as the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in Asia today.

Both Folayang and Banario overcame seemingly insurmountable odds against high-caliber opponents to become MMA world champions.

Banario scored a fourth-round technical knockout victory over compatriot Eric “The Natural” Kelly to claim the ONE Featherweight World Championship belt in February 2013, while Folayang shocked the world by capturing the ONE Lightweight World Championship strap with a sensational stoppage win over Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki last November.ONE-Defending-Honor-Eduard-Folayang-celebration Folayang focused on breaking curse of first title defense Mixed Martial Arts News ONE Championship  - philippine sports news

However, Banario’s reign as ONE Championship’s featherweight kingpin did not last long, as he yielded to Japanese veteran Koji Oishi via second-round knockout three months after winning the belt.

On Friday, April 21, Folayang will make the first defense of his title against Malaysian-Kiwi sensation Ev “E.T.” Ting (13-3) in the main event of ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny, which takes place at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

As fans eagerly await his return to the cage, Folayang reveals that he plans to beat Ting and keep the belt, becoming the first member of Team Lakay to do so in ONE Championship.

“My goal is to retain my lightweight title. Continuing to be the champion is a very tough task, but I accept the challenge.

“The champions that came before me — recognized as greats and legends of the sport — every single one of them faced contenders that challenged their prowess as champions. In April, I will have the opportunity to show the world why I hold my coveted title,” he said.

#ReadMore  Bea De Leon, Titans mainstay, leaves Choco Mucho

Folayang was visibly excited for the upcoming bout; the fighter could barely contain himself. The bout signifies the first time that Folayang will be fighting in the Philippines since December 2014.

Although he is absolutely looking forward to performing in front of his fans, Folayang admitted that he has certainly felt the pressure.

Folayang’s last ONE Championship outing on Philippine soil did not wind up in his favor. The Filipino warrior bowed down to Russian standout Timofey Nastyukhin by way of a first-round knockout that was so devastating, it sidelined him for over a year. Nonetheless, Folayang welcomes the opportunity to rewrite history and to score a much-needed big win at home.

“I am excited to fight again in front of my countrymen. All of my fights in 2016 took place outside the Philippines. I’m thankful for this opportunity because I can erase the painful memory of my last fight in Manila,” the 5-foot-7 lightweight stated.

“I can feel both the pressure and the excitement for this fight. The important thing right now is that I maintain my focus as the fight approaches.”

The knockout setback to Nastyukhin acted as a wake-up call for Folayang, as the 32-year-old Baguio City-native authored a career resurgence in 2016, winning three consecutive bouts against top-notch foes while showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling offensive arsenal.ONE-Defending-Honor-Eduard-Folayang-Entrance Folayang focused on breaking curse of first title defense Mixed Martial Arts News ONE Championship  - philippine sports news

If history were to be used as the sole basis, there is a certain degree of semblance in both Folayang and Banario’s championship runs. They both overcame insurmountable odds, and they both won their titles on foreign soil. And just like Banario, Folayang will now be making the his first title defense at home.

#ReadMore  Eustaquio, Kingad remain undecided as potential collision course looms

Although Banario wasn’t successful in keeping his belt, Folayang vows to do everything in his power to make sure that history will not repeat itself.

“Everything happens for a reason. My career is a true testament to that,” Folayang said.

“In tough situations, you need to have faith, hard work and dedication.

“I am not being complacent because I don’t want to let my countrymen down. I will make sure that the belt stays in the Philippines,” he promised.

Written By


You May Also Like

Mixed Martial Arts

Two of the Philippines’ most promising MMA fighters are set to return to action this November. Team Lakay’s Carlos Alvarez will finally have his...

Kickboxing

Honorio Banario demonstrated that he’s far from finished in his fighting career, proving he still has plenty left in the tank. The former ONE...

Mixed Martial Arts

Filipino fans will need to exercise patience as it may take a while before they see Carlos Alvarez back in action. Tiebreaker Times has...

Mixed Martial Arts

Carlos Alvarez’s long wait for an opportunity to return to the winner’s circle ends this October. The 25-year-old Baguio City native reports for duty...

Kickboxing

The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP) is pulling out all the stops to ensure a stellar showing at the upcoming Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024,...

Kickboxing

Jean Claude Saclag wouldn’t take a moment to savor his monumental victory on the ONE Friday Fights stage. Instead, he has chosen to forego...

Mixed Martial Arts

Jean Claude Saclag shone bright light like a diamond in his first assignment on the global stage of mixed martial arts. The 29-year-old native...

Mixed Martial Arts

ONE Championship’s weekly series will provide another Filipino up-and-comer with an opportunity to strut his stuff under the bright lights. Jean Claude Saclag suits...

Advertisement