Folayang gets title shot vs Asian ‘legend’ after long wait

After a long wait, Eduard Folayang finally gets a title shot when he takes on ONE Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki at ONE Championship: Defending Honor on November 11 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“Parang di ako makapaniwala nung binigyan ako ng opportunity,” he said. “Sabi ko lang, in time and season. Halos five years din ang hinintay ko. Ngayon na nandito na yung opportunity, ginrab ko na talaga.”

Folayang (16-5, 5 KO) is coming off a two-fight winning streak after picking up the pieces since his debilitating loss to Timofey Nastyukhin on December 2014.

Now, the 31-year-old staking his claim against the veteran Aoki (39-6-0-1, 2 KO), someone who Folayang regards as one of the best in Asia.

“He’s a legend sa Asia at sa Japan dahil sa galing nya sa ground,” he said. “This is the biggest fight of my career, di lang dahil championship fight pero dahil din sa kalaban ko.”

“This is an opportunity kung saan marami tayong pwedeng i-prove, na kahit third world country tayo, na kahit mas beterano sila, di factor yun. Against all odds, there will always be a chance for us to be known.”

Fancied as the opponent may seem, Folayang is confident could be the “David” that beats “Goliath” in his pursuit of the title belt.

“Sa tuwing naiisip ko na nakakapagbigay sya ng intimidation sa akin, iniisip ko na lang na hindi ako makikilala kung di ko io-overcome yung malaki kong kalaban. Di naman makikilala si David kung di nya na-conquer si Goliath eh. Sya ang Goliath ko ngayon,” he said.

And Folayang is training harder, including improving his ground defense, as he eyes an upset against the Japanese champion.

“Yun ang pinaghahandaan ko ngayon, na dapat maganda ang defense ko sa ground, at the same time, dapat din maganda ang offense ko kung saan pwede ako mag-take ng opportunity sa mga pagkakamali nya,” he said. “Pag punta sa striking, yun ang advantage ko. If I keep the fight standing, mas malaki ang chance ko manalo.”