Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is someone who fans nowadays would describe as an “OG.”
Having main-evented the first ONE Championship show back in 2011, Folayang remains one of the strongest pulls in the Philippines 11 years later. Now he’s set to represent the country in a card that airs live in US primetime.
Folayang battles Edson Marques in a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at ONE Fight Night 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin on Dec. 3 in ONE’s return to the Mall of Asia Arena.
“All I wanted to do is compete again and join this card. It doesn’t matter who I face. Actually, I was waiting for Akiyama, but I think he turned down the offer in fighting me,” he said.
“I’m grateful because I was able to join, and of course the event will be in the Philippines for the first time in three years, so I’m super excited. I’m looking forward to performing in front of my home crowd.”
Folayang joins a stacked morning card bannered by the match between two-division World Champion Reinier De Ridder and ONE Interim Heavyweight World Champion Anatoly Malykhin for the former’s ONE Light Heavyweight World Title.
Aside from Folayang, Denice Zamboanga will be the only other local competing on the morning show. She takes on Lin Heqin on the lead card.
With ONE’s transition outside of Asia, Folayang is excited to showcase his skills to an entirely different demographic with his no-nonsense, in-your-face style of wushu striking.
“Of course, I’m happy. I feel honored being put on the forefront of a card that will air live in U.S. primetime through Prime Video. I’m one of the few Filipinos on that card,” he said.
“It’s such a huge motivating factor for me because our trajectory is heading West, and I’d love to entertain our fans over there and make new ones.”
In the meantime, tickets for ONE Fight Night 5 and ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks at the Mall of Asia Arena on 3 December are available at https://linktr.ee/ONEPH.
Also, catch “Globe Presents ONE Warrior Series Philippines” every Sunday night on GTV, the ONE Super App, and watch.onefc.com. Weekly replays air on Tap Go, ONE Championship Philippines Facebook, and ONE Championship’s official YouTube channel.
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