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Friday, March 29, 2024

Folayang returns to winning ways

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Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang returned to his winning ways with a dominant unanimous decision victory against previously-unbeaten Russian dynamo Kharun “The Predator” Atlangeriev last Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Folayang kept the Russian at bay with his cobra quick hands and powerful side kicks to the body. Folayang landed the more telling blows and stuffed every takedown attempt to grab the unanimous decision victory.

 Filipino Eduard ‘Landslide’ Folayang unloads a darting right hand against previously-unbeaten Russian Kharun ‘The Predator’ Atlangeriev. Folayang relied on his superior striking skills to post a unanimous decision victory. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Mindful of his shock defeat when he lost his world title to Martin Nguyen last November 2017 Folayang was cautious and stayed away from his trademark spinning wheel kicks.

Nguyen exploited his familiarity with Folayang’s style and knocked out the then champion with a right hand straight to the jaw after Folayang spun around attempting a dangerous spinning wheel kick.

Folayang was more conservative this time around and was content to deliver sidekicks to great effect to grab the easy victory by decision.

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In the main event of ONE: Unstoppable Dream, Angela “Unstoppable” Lee of Singapore continued her reign as the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion by notching a unanimous decision victory over Japan’s Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi.

ONE Strawweight Women’s World Champion Angela Lee (left) blocks the punches of challenger Mei Yamaguchi. Lee retained her title with a unanimous decision victory. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Lee and Yamaguchi traded heavy blows and showcased high-level, tactical grappling skills all throughout the bout to the delight of a packed Singapore Indoor Stadium crowd.

Yamaguchi started out very strong in the early going, but Lee came close with several near-submissions. Throughout five grueling rounds, Lee dug deep to show the heart of a champion, doing just enough to earn the unanimous decision win.

In the another championship fight Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Australia successfully defended the ONE Featherweight World Championship title, defeating Singaporean rival Christian “The Warrior” Lee by way of closely-contested split decision.

Neither fighter gave any quarter for five whole rounds in the championship clash. Although Nguyen would have his moments on his feet in the first two rounds, most of the action took place on the mat as the two grappled.

Nguyen bombarded Lee with a barrage of solid punches midway in the third round. With lesser activity from Lee, Nguyen continued to press the action up to the final round to emerge victorious on two of the three judges’ scorecards, earning him the split decision win.

ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen (left) kicks challenger Christian Lee at bay with his kicks to the leg and body. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

In the co-main event of the evening, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao of Thailand exhibited his stellar and fearsome form against Dutch kickboxer Sergio Wielzen to become the first-ever ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Champion.

Sam-A hammered hard elbows to score a knockdown in the fourth round. Wielzen failed to beat the count of ten, compelling the referee to declare Sam-A the winner via knockout.

Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex of Thailand aced his maiden ONE Super Series assignment with flying colors, toppling Dutch-Congolese powerhouse Chris Ngimbi in their three-round kickboxing catchweight collision.

Japanese martial arts legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki made quick work of Rasul Yakhyaev, submitting the grizzled Russian combatant in the very first round. The former ONE Lightweight World Champion got the job done by compelling Yakhyaev to wave the white flag, courtesy of a wrenching triangle choke submission.

Singaporean lightweight contender Amir Khan placed himself back on the winning track by routing Sung Jong Lee of South Korea via second-round technical knockout victory.

Making his ONE Super Series debut, celebrated Muay Thai legend Singtongnoi Por Telakun authored a spectacular performance to the delight of the crowd, outclassing WBC Muay Thai Super Bantamweight World Champion Joseph Lasiri.

Xie Chao of China showcased incredible grit and toughness as he overcame a furious start from Cambodia’s Meas Meul, winning by technical knockout in the third round.

China’s Xie Bin spoiled the ONE Championship debut of Huang Shi Hao, thwarting the Singaporean newcomer by way of second-round technical knockout. 

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