Eduard “Landslide” FolayangEV TingMMAONE ChampionshipONE Championship™ (ONE)ONE: KINGS OF DESTINYPress ReleaseSports
Eduard Folayang feels privileged to headline ONE Championship’s 10th event in the Philippines
Although
Eduard “Landslide” Folayang has been with ONE Championship since its inception
in 2011, it marks the first time that he will be in the top bill of the
organization’s live event in the Philippines.
The
33-year-old Baguio City native is set to lock horns with Malaysian-Kiwi
sensation Ev “E.T.” Ting in the main event of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which is
ONE Championship’s tenth blockbuster show on Philippine shores.
With
ten marquee matchups slated on the card, ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY takes place at
the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 21 April.
Folayang, who is universally recognized as the face of the
Philippine MMA scene, has previously headlined two events under the ONE
Championship banner.
The
popular Team Lakay representative competed in the headliner of ONE
Championship’s inaugural card, where he notched a unanimous decision victory
over Korean veteran A-Sol Kwon.
Five
years later, Folayang found himself in the same position when he challenged
Japanese MMA legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki for the ONE Lightweight World
Championship title in the main event of ONE: DEFENDING HONOR.
Folayang
dethroned Aoki for the gold-plated belt by way of third-round technical
knockout, driving a hard knee to the head before unleashing a barrage of
punches to coerce the referee to wave it off.
In
the first defense of his coveted lightweight strap, Folayang has been booked in
the principal attraction of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, squaring off against a
topnotch challenger in Ting.
Folayang
stressed that he considers it as a privilege to be in the main event of the
tenth ONE Championship card in the Philippines.
“It’s
my first time to be in the main event of ONE Championship’s card in the
Philippines. I know that it’s a big responsibility, but I am humbled and
privileged to be in this position,” he said.
Folayang
admitted that he is so motivated for his upcoming title defense as he will be
fighting in front of a partisan Manila crowd for the first time in nearly three
years.
“It’s going to be awesome. I love my country, and I love the
Filipino people and all the MMA fans. I can’t wait to get back in there and
defend our home turf. By the grace of God, I will emerge victorious,” he stated.
The
man known as “Landlside” realizes that to be successful against Ting, he has to
make sure he comes in at his absolute best.
“I
know the stakes. I know what’s riding on this fight. Ev Ting is coming for my
belt. He’s coming to take what I’ve worked so hard for my entire career. There
is no way I’m just going to let him take it. It’s not going to be easy, that’s
for sure,” Folayang shared.
With
Ting recently making the move up from featherweight to lightweight, Folayang
believes that his extra experience in the weight class will give him the
advantage.
“My
main advantage over him is my experience as a fighter, especially in the
lightweight division. We all know that Ev Ting came from the featherweight
division, so I’m more used to fighting in this division,” he said.
Although
he may have a friendly and boyish demeanor outside the battleground, Folayang
made it clear that inside the cage, it is all business.
“When
I enter that cage, my entire mindset changes. The time for being nice and
playing games is over. Once that cage door closes, my focus shifts entirely to
battle. It’s different because it’s just like taking final exams. If I don’t
take it seriously, I myself will fail. Only one guy gets to walk out of the
cage a winner, so I make sure that guy is me,” he concluded.
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