Eduard Folayang fell short anew after suffering a defeat to lightweight contender Antonio Caruso.
The Team Lakay star had a grand plan of possibly earning another title shot in after he clinched the lightweight title twice in the ONE Championship.
But the recent loss is a bitter pill to swallow as the Team Lakay veteran already lost four of his last five fights since 2019.
Speaking to sportswriters Friday night in a post-match virtual press conference, Folayang assured that he never loses hope of coming back strong.
"I'm not contemplating retirement yet," said the 35-year-old Folayang, admitting that he'll need self-assessment after losing in the three-round lightweight bout in ONE: Inside the Matrix at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Folayang lost twice in early 2019 via submission to Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez before clinching a victory later in November 2019 against Tsogookhuu Amarsanaa.
Two months later, the Team Lakay stalwart bowed down once more against current No. 3 Pieter Buist, who also spoiled Caruso's ONE Championship debut in 2019.
Caruso then chalked up another loss in Folayang's 22-10 record (22-10) after scoring a unanimous decision win.
"I think it's just some mistake that will go through again. I think this is one of those seasons wherein it's winter time for me but I need to reassess myself and be back on the Circle again," said Folayang.