If things fall into place for ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, the dream match between two of ONE Championship’s best could happen sooner than later.
The two superstars will be competing on the stacked ONE: A NEW ERA card in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March as they take on different opponents in the promotion's debut in "The Land Of The Rising Sun."
Folayang will be defending his title in the main event against grappling wizard and former World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki in a rematch between two of Asia's finest lightweights.
Alvarez will be making his much-awaited debut on the same card against Russian sensation Timofey Nastyukhin in the quarterfinals of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.
If Folayang successfully defends his title against Aoki and Alvarez wins the inaugural Lightweight Grand Prix, the clash between the two warriors is certainly inevitable
"Folayang is the current ONE Lightweight World Champion and he was very impressive in his last match,” said Alvarez.
“I hope we win our up-and-coming matches and face each other before the end of the year. He is the best that’s why I'm looking forward to facing him in the future," he added.
While that match-up is certainly exciting, their focus now is entirely on their upcoming matches.
“It will be my pleasure to compete against one of the best mixed martial artists of our generation. If that match happens, it will be a perfect test for me to check how far my skills have reached as an athlete of the sport," Folayang said.
“But for now my full attention is with Aoki.”
After proving himself out west, Alvarez wants nothing less than a smooth transition to The Home of Martial Arts, and he certainly has that belt on his crosshairs.
"I want to compete against the best talents in my division and earn that ONE Lightweight World Title. I've made a space in my office for this belt and I'm here in Asia to get this belt – that's my main purpose and my main belt."
