ONE: Expect more careful, flexible Eduard Folayang vs dangerous Amir Khan

You can see a more careful Eduard Folayang when he takes on a dangerous opponent in Amir Khan for the lightweight title in ONE: Conquest of Champions on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Seeing how Khan, a product of the famed EVOLVE MMA gym, made quick work of Team Lakay teammate Honorio Banario in their last fight in Chona two months ago, Folayang is going to be more cautious and cerebral in his approach.

“In his last fight against Honorio, [Khan] had a good game plan. I learned from that. I watched the fight. It made me think that it’s still a sport that you need to use your mind, have a good strategy. It made me think to be more careful and to be more flexible,” Folayang told INQUIRER.net Tuesday.

Since absorbing that right counter from Martin Nguyen that sent him down cold to the mat a year ago, Folayang has had a long journey back to title contention in the stacked lightweight class but he let that drag him down.

“That defeat left me really devastated. But I thought to myself that martial arts is a journey and you should never allow those circumstances to define you, you should use it as an instrument to improve your performance every time.”

Folayang has since realized that what he thinks is good isn’t always the best option.

The Igorot champion tried to hit Nguyen with his spinning back kick but the Australian-Vietnamese fighter saw right through it and launched a perfect counter punch.

“Sometimes, you don’t realize that your strength can also be the cause of your downfall. I always use my turning back kick and I forgot that I wasn’t able to execute it well, but I still delivered it and it cost me something that I have worked hard for a long time,” said Folayang. “Next time, I should not be careless.”

Folayang once again has the backing of the hometown crowd at Mall of Asia Arena, which is something that he has learned to use to his advantage.

“I always say that it’s pressure but I think I have already grown into it. I need to use it now as an opportunity for us to unleash the greatness. I think it will be a huge motivation for me.”