Relentless Folayang seizes ‘rare’ chance in regaining ONE title

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It took a year for Eduard Folayang to reclaim the ONE world lightweight title and he did it in a way that can only be described as methodical madness.

Folayang was an absolute mad man when he pummeled Singapore’s Amir Khan in five rounds to win the lightweight strap, the same title he lost to Martin Nguyen in a shock knockout loss on Nov. 10, 2017.

And if Folayang had some pent up aggression for more than 365 days, what he displayed in the co-main event of the card was pure calculated chaos.

“When I saw that he got hurt, I looked for the finish but I think I tensed up during that moment and the time was very short for me to finish him off,” said Folayang in Filipino after the Conquest of Champions card Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“He was able to cope in the later rounds.”

Folayang (21-6) executed a perfect take down late in the second when he caught Khan’s flying knee slamming the Singaporean to the mat.

The 35-year-old Filipino fighting icon then proceeded to shower Khan (11-4) with elbows and punches but the Evolve MMA star was able to hang on until the bell.

What followed next in the last three rounds was a master class of striking that saw Folayang punish Khan in every way possible.

Folayang became the fourth member of Team Lakay to get a ONE Championship world title in 2018 following Geje Eustaquio (flyweight), Joshua Pacio (strawweight), and Kevin Belingon (bantamweight).

“This is a rare opportunity to stand with my fellow champions tonight and I’m grateful for my coach and teammates that we have these belts.”