It’s the moment of truth for former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.
He’s just one day away from the massive ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX event scheduled for this Friday, October 30, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Folayang battles Antonio “The Spartan” Caruso in a lightweight clash that could determine the Filipino icon’s future in a division that seems to be getting better by the minute.
“I’m ready,” Folayang said. “I have been preparing [for this match] since before we knew it was going to be Caruso, so I’m coming in really prepared and motivated to get back on track.
“If you want a tree to grow you have to plant the seed, and we’ve been doing that. No matter how much you want something, if you’re not planting the seeds, then it won’t grow.”
Caruso, on the other hand, wants to chop down the tree.
The young Australian plans to use his youth and vigor against battle tested Folayang, who many feel is entering the final stretch of his illustrious mixed martial arts career.
“Folayang is explosive, but no offense, [and] he’s 36 years old now,” Caruso said.
“We all know that saying that time doesn’t do us justice. I’m a young and hungry man, so come October 30, I’m going to be all over him. My explosion, I’m going to take it out on him, and you’re going to see that Friday night.”
A lot has been said about Folayang’s age and mileage, but the soft-spoken star from the highlands is blocking all the external noise out and focusing on what’s ahead of him.
“I’m still fresh, and I’m motivated to get back and prove that I still have a lot to offer in this division,” Folayang said.
“Hopefully, I get to show that on Friday. I plan to go over my game plan and execute it to perfection and make him fight my fight.”
Call it tunnel vision, but Folayang has his eyes only on one thing, and that is winning the ONE Lightweight World Title one more time.
“That’s the goal. The fire is still better. I plan to climb the rankings, break into the top five, and then maybe enter the top two and end up winning the title for the third time,” he said.
Watch ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX next Friday, 30 October, live on One Sports+ or the ONE Super App at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT). One Sports will air the event on a same-day delay at 9 p.m. PHT.
Additionally, TV5 will air the event on a next-day delay at 11 p.m. PHT on Saturday, October 31.