Eduard Folayang Determined To Keep ONE Lightweight World Title

Life is full of ups and downs. There will be moments of unadulterated joy and times of heartache and despair.

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang has ridden a roller coaster of emotions in his 15-year journey in martial arts. The Filipino has been at the top of the tree — more than once — and has crashed to earth with a thud.

Like all World Champions, however, Folayang climbed his way back to the top of the mountain, and he is enjoying the view.

“It’s much more different now,” Folayang said of life as ONE Lightweight World Champion.

“So many people stop me and say ‘Hi,’ and I hear a lot of people say, ‘Oh, that’s the champion.’”

Folayang’s life took a turn for the better about two and a half years ago.

With the odds stacked against him, the Baguio City native overcame Japanese legend Shinya Aoki to claim the ONE Lightweight World Title in 2016.

Folayang would defend it only once — beating Malaysia’s Ev Ting at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY in Manila — before it was ripped from his grasp by Vietnamese-Australian Martin Nguyen.

Like the Filipino, Nguyen was the overwhelming underdog, but he left the Manila crowd stunned when he knocked out the hometown hero in the second round.

Since that evening, the Filipino has been desperate to make amends. He would win his next two bouts before earning another shot at the gold.

With Singaporean knockout sensation Amir Khan standing in his way, Folayang repaid the faith of his adoring fans and reclaimed the ONE Lightweight World Title in a five-round affair back in November.

Now, “Landslide” feels rejuvenated, and he can barely walk through town without being stopped by his fans.

“It some ways, I’m a lot more well known now, especially if I’m walking down the street,” Folayang said.

“A lot of people recognize me, they know I’m the champion again. It signifies one thing, that MMA is growing so fast — not only here in the Philippines, but across the world.”

Folayang’s stable, Team Lakay, is doing more than its bit to grow the sport in the Philippines, too.

When the 34-year-old defeated Khan in front of his home fans at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Folayang became the fourth Team Lakay ONE World Champion in 2018, joining his teammates Kevin Belingon (bantamweight), Geje Eustaquio (flyweight), and Joshua Pacio (strawweight).

In addition, he also became the first man to have a second reign as the ONE Lightweight World Champion.

“I was able to be there with my teammates, and they were able to give me great motivation to push through and get the belt again,” Folayang said.

“I’m proud of my team and all the effort they put in.”

After both Pacio and Eustaquio surrendered their belts in January 2019, Folayang is even more determined to successfully defend his crown on a historic card in Tokyo.

He will headline ONE: A NEW ERA on 31 March when he defends his ONE Lightweight World Title against Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in a mouth-watering rematch.

It’s perhaps the most significant bout in Folayang’s career, and one that he is currently fixated on winning.

“I have to do everything that I can to win this next bout,” he said.

“I’m anticipating it to be the toughest of my career. Shinya has improved a lot, and it would not be smart to underestimate him. He is a legend, after all.

“But this World Title means so much to me, and it means a lot to my team and my country. I can’t let them down, so I am working very hard to be in the best condition of my life so that I can defend the belt.”