A year after expanding his role from fighter to coach and manager, former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is grateful for how things have transpired.
Breaking his nearly 17-year partnership with Team Lakay to start Lions Nation MMA was a risk, especially for a fighter like Folayang, who’s still looking to revive his career. But things turned out as well as he could’ve hoped for over the past 12 months.
During this stretch, the Lions of the Cordilleras have celebrated victories left and right, none bigger than Joshua “The Passion” Pacio’s ONE Strawweight MMA World Title win.
Though he won via disqualification against Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks, Pacio’s climb back to contendership all started with Lions Nation MMA. After all, he debuted in the team’s black and gold trunks with a tough victory over #5-ranked Mansur Malachiev.
Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw also impressed in his Lions Nation MMA debut when he submitted Wang Shuo, while Folayang finally broke his dry spell in MMA by knocking Amir Khan out in a rematch.
“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in just one year. Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team,” Folayang said.
“As we enter our second year, we are excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.”
As successful as they have been over the past year, this team is on the hunt for further glory.
Pacio, for his part, isn’t satisfied with what they have achieved up until now, believing that they have much more success ahead of them.