Nagbabalik na ulit si Eduard “Landslide” Folayang sa dati matapos siyang matalo ni Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at maagaw sa kanya ang ONE Lightweight World Championship. Pero kampante siya na mababawi niya ang kanyang belt.
“I think I’ve proven it time and time again. I lost before, then I was able to get back the ONE Lightweight World Title,” paliwanag niya.
“I lost again only to climb the ladder once more and win it back. Whatever the opportunity that would come, I won’t miss it again.”
Folayang certainly knows what he is talking about.
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Usap usapan ang paghinto niya sa pakikipaglaban matapos siyang mapatumba ni Martin Nguyen sa ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD sa harap ng kaniyang mga kababayan noong Nobyembre 2017.
Pero hindi nagpatinag si Folayang. May plano siyang makabangon ulit at maging mas malakas pa.
Ang soft-spoken kuya ng Team Lakay ay nakapanalo ng dalawang magkasunod na laban mula sa undefeated na sina Russian stalwarts Kharun Atlangeriev at Aziz Pahrudinov at nagkaroon din siya ng pagkakataon sa ONE Lightweight World Title laban kay Evolva MMA’s Amir Khan.
Kinuha agad ni Folayang ang opurtunidad na iyon at nagapi niya si Khan sa isang unanimous decision victory at nakuha niya ang ONE Lightweight World Title.
Kung nagawa niya ang mga iyon anim na buwan na ang nakararaan ay malakas ang loob niyang makakabangon ulit siya.
“It’s just a matter of time. If we get that chance once again, why not? If I need a couple of more wins to reach that, of course, I’m open to it,” sabi niya.
“I always make my way back to title contention. Sometimes the opportunity comes for other athletes to get an immediate rematch, or stay within the top two contenders of the division. I feel like I’m still at that level.”
Tulad ng ibang nasa ONE Championship’s lightweight division, umaasa din si Folayang na makaharap ang baguhang si Christian Lee na nagkaroon ng grand debut sa kanilang weight class matapos niya maagaw kay Aoki ang ONE Lightweight World Title sa ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON.
“I’d love to test myself against the new champion,” sabi niya. “He’s the ‘young lion.’ I want to face that young lion.”
