BAGUIO CITY -- Eduard Folayang returns to mixed martial arts action in the Circle when he takes on Edson Marques in ONE Fight Night 5 on Dec. 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The 38-year-old Folayang is out to defy Father time anew, this time back in the MMA scene, seven months after defeating muay thai legend John Wayne Parr in a special muay thai exhibition match last March.
The Team Lakay stalwart is also ecstatic as ONE Championship returns to Manila in a card themed "Philippines vs The World" since the Singapore-based promotion held an event last January 2020.
"I'm so excited tapos maglalaro ulit doon sa mixed martial arts which is 'yong naging bread and butter naman natin for the past years," said Folayang, who holds a 22-12 record.
"I'm so hyped coming back again for this coming December 3 fight," he added.
Folayang had an active career the past two years amid the pandemic but unfortunately yielded four straight defeats at the hands of Lipeng Zhang, Shinya Aoki, Tony Caruso, and Pieter Buist.
Dating back 2019, Folayang only won once against Tsogookhuu Amarsanaa as he also succumbed to the likes of Aoki and Eddie Alvarez.
Redemption is still the storyline as far as Folayang's return is concerned en route to another title shot in the lightweight division.
"Siyempre 'yong gusto nating ipakita na kaya pa natin and we still have a lot of things to show and naniniwala ako na magiging maganda 'yong result ng fight na 'to," said the former ONE lightweight champion.
Folayang's win against Parr also gave him a huge breather from the MMA scene and another victory over Marques would carve a path to his redemption.
Folayang, who has been the image of Philippine MMA for the past decade, also expressed glee for being a part of another historic card.
"I'm so happy kasi hindi lang tayo 'yong magre-represent ng bansa natin kung 'di meron pa tayong mga kababayan na, which they are doing great also for the sport of mixed martial arts," he said.
"Kaya super excited and super happy na we have the opportunity and the chance to represent our country in our own soil."