EDUARD “Landslide” Folayang, who won his ONE Championship Lightweight World title late last year, makes his first defense against challenger Ev Ting in Manila on April 21.
The 33-year-old Folayang has spent years chasing the world MMA crown he now holds. He is motivated, hungry and prepared to defend his hard-earned title.
Folayang, whose wife recently gave birth to their first child, will not be fighting for himself alone this time around.
“Just being with my wife and child makes me more determined to hold on to the crown, not just for myself but for my family,” said Folayang ahead of his defense against a dangerous challenger.
Folayang and Ting faced off during an exclusive media day held by the largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), in conjunction with Predator gaming laptops at the Top of the Citi Restaurant in Citibank Tower for their coming fight ONE: Kings of Destiny.
Folayang of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City is a grizzled veteran MMA fighter who has been competing in the sport for over a decade. His career has had its ups and downs. He has authored spectacular victories and experienced devastating defeats.
He knows how dangerous fighting inside the cage can be. He was left a bloody mess and lost via brutal TKO after Lowen Tynanes split open his left eyebrow with an elbow. He was even put to sleep after a flying knee by Timofey Nastyukhin smashed on his forehead knocking him senseless.
But he rose from the ashes of those defeats, ascended the difficult trek to the championship and eventually prevailed against all odds. He believes that the difficult road to the top has made him a better, more complete fighter.
“I know how it feels to be a challenger hungry for recognition. I know how it feels to be the underdog facing a favored, better known opponent. I will not underestimate Ting,” said Folayang.
The veteran capped an astonishing 2016 when he won three consecutive bouts against high-profile opponents while showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling game.
In his last bout, Folayang shocked the world by capturing the ONE Lightweight World Championship with a sensational victory over Japanese MMA and grappling legend Shinya Aoki.
Folayang faces a dangerous opponent in the versatile Ting who adapts to his opponents accordingly. Ting has beaten grapplers by staying on his feet and trading punches and kicks from afar. He has beaten strikers by taking them to uncharted territory, bringing them down to the mat and winning by submission.
Ting was born in Malaysia but lives and trains out of Auckland, New Zealand. He owns an impressive 13-3 professional record which includes four wins by submission and also four exciting knockouts.
Ting earned his date with Folayang after defeating MMA veteran Kamal Shalorus, who incidentally has beaten Folayang, by split decision. The victory earned him the right to face the ONE Lightweight world champion.
For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ ONEChampionship.
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia featuring the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia.
ONE Championship is broadcast to over one billion viewers across 118+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including FOX Sports, Setanta, MNC, Astro, Thairath TV, ABS-CBN, TV5, MYTV, HTV, OSN and more.