Folayang, a decorated national wushu standout, takes on South Korea’s Kwon A-sol in the lightweight bout expected to showcase their contrasting fighting styles.
“I prepared well for two months and I think I can match up well with him,” Folayang said in Filipino after the officials’ briefing yesterday at the Holiday Inn.
Folayang, who boasts a 9-1 record, including five knockouts, ruled his division in the wushu competition of the last two Southeast Asian Games and picked up a silver and a bronze in two Asian Games.
And the 26-year-old Folayang thinks his wushu skills will give him an edge over Kwon, who holds a 19-6 record.
“He’s a veteran in the sport, he has been to many fights,” said Folayang, the Baguio City fighter who’s also the reigning welterweight champion in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC).
“This is the first time we’ll compete. But I studied his fights and I think my wrestling takedowns will be an advantage.”
Another Filipino fighter, Eric Kelly, will go up against Mitch Chilson of the United States in the featherweight division.
“This is a world-class event,” said Victor Cui, the event CEO of the inaugural tournament pitting 20 fighters from 11 countries.