CHAMPIONS faced off when ONE Championship Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Featherweight counterpart Martin “Situ-Asian” Nguyen met media representatives during the launch of ONE: Legends of the World last Tuesday at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati.
Folayang defends his Lightweight title against Nguyen in the main event of the Nov. 10 card at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Filipino champion faces the biggest challenge in his career against the well-rounded Nguyen.
Folayang won the lightweight title by beating then champion Shinya Aoki and successfully defending his title against Ev Ting.
Aoki was a submission specialist while Ting was an accomplished striker. Nguyen combines the best of both styles winning by stoppage through strikes in six of his nine victories and winning by submission in three.
Folayang said he has worked hard to prepare for the dangerous Nguyen.
“Martin [Nguyen] is a great martial artist and an amazing competitor. He has earned the highest degree of my respect. There is absolutely no chance that I am coming into this bout underestimating him. I am prepared for the best Martin Nguyen possible, one that has no weaknesses,” said Folayang.
“This bout will be talked about long after it is finished, as two champions face-off inside the cage. I live for these challenges, and I am motivated for victory, for the pride and honor of the Philippines,” he added.
Nguyen said that while he admired Folayang, he was not about to pass up the chance to set ONE Championship history by winning a second ONE world title.
“I like Eduard [Folayang]. I said to myself I did not want to compete against someone I like and take away their glory, but opportunities like this do not come around too often. And, if I refused to do this, someone else was going to compete against him and take his glory,” said Nguyen.
“So, it is strictly business. I am in a super bout for the first time ever in ONE Championship history to become a two-division champion. This match is not going to go the distance.”
The 33-year-old Folayang is riding the crest of a four-fight winning streak against high-profile opponents including grappling legend Aoki and the highly regarded Ting.
The 28-year-old Nguyen knocked out previously undefeated ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov to win his first ONE crown. He challenges Folayang hoping to win a second ONE world title.
Ticket information for the event is available at www.onefc.com.
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