Former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang doesn’t see much changing when his teammate in #2-ranked flyweight MMA contender Danny “The King” Kingad takes on #4-ranked Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in a rematch of their 2018 clash.
The two top contenders tangle in a crucial bout between two of the best fighters in the division at ONE 165 inside the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, this 28 January.
Kingad scored a hard-earned decision win over the Japanese man in their initial meeting, and Folayang believes “The King” is a much better fighter today.
“For Danny, I’ve witnessed his growth as a fighter,” he said.
“I still believe Danny’s at an advantage here considering that he’s more complete both on the ground and in striking. That’s his main advantage.”
While Folayang acknowledged that Wakamatsu has improved, he noted that he’ll be bringing the same tools into this fight against Kingad.
Sure, his already deadly striking has gotten even better, and maybe he has worked on his defense a bit, but “Landslide” doesn’t see anything else that Wakamatsu can offer in this bout.
“Yuya is a bit one dimensional. His bread and butter is his hands, and his takedown defense is getting better,” he said. “But that’s it.”
That’s why he believes that this match is Kingad’s to lose, especially with how things play out on paper.
And if Kingad does beat Wakamatsu again, Folayang expects his teammate to challenge ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson next.
“I expect a win,” he said. “By way of what? Secret. You’ll find out in the match.”
“I think he deserves the shot next. What’s next for him? I don’t think it would make sense for him to face Adriano again, so I think he gets DJ.”