After brutal battle, lightweight rivals Eduard Folayang, Shinya Aoki share dessert

MANILA, Philippines—All’s well that ends well for Eduard Folayang and Shinya Aoki.

Despite losing the ONE World lightweight championship to Aoki in Japan, Folayang shared his light-hearted moment with his foe during dinnertime of the ONE Elite Athlete’s Retreat at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa.

Folayang (21-7) was left unconscious 2:34 into the first round of ONE: A New Era’s main event after Aoki (43-8) locked him in an arm triangle choke, but things ended in the cage with the two sharing their mutual respect after.

“We both aimed to win it in our last bout but only one can get that, so we decided to eat desserts together,” said Folayang in the post where he was seen posing with a piece of chocolate cake.

The loss to Aoki in Tokyo was Folayang’s first defeat in four fights after he racked up three straight victories in 2018.

Aoki’s win, meanwhile, was his redemption against Folayang who beat him in 2016 for the very same belt they fought for in Japan on March 31.

Read more...