Antonio Caruso throws a punch again Eduard Folayang during their lightweight match in ONE: Inside the Matrix. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
MANILA, Philippines—Antonio Caruso’s first victory so far in ONE Championship mean everything for the up-and-coming Australian.
After losing to Pieter Buist in his debut, Caruso scored a unanimous decision win over two-time lightweight champion Eduard Folayang on Friday in ONE: Inside the Matrix.
“It means the world to me. I come from the little city of Adelaide and now I’m fighting in the world’s biggest martial arts stage and against arguably the best of the division,” said Caruso in his post-fight virtual press conference from Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Caruso (8-1) used his length against the shorter Folayang for much of the fight and even sending the former champion down to the mat with a crisp right uppercut.
With momentum on his side, and the sense of winning the first two rounds, Caruso just had to keep Folayang at bay in the third but the latter found his second gear and went at the newcomer with gusto.
Caruso managed to put a stop to Folayang’s aggression with a successful takedown and holding the mount position in the final 10 seconds to prevent a guillotine attempt.
He added that what he wasn’t surprised with how Folayang fought and it was all due to his extensive studying of the Team Lakay senior.
There were, however, moments that Caruso felt that Folayang could’ve gotten the chance to win the bout.
“He’s a veteran, I wouldn’t lie I felt I was dominating him but I saw that flair in his eyes that’s saying ‘I’m gonna get this man,’” said Caruso when Folayang turned his aggression up in the third.
“He nearly caught me with a guillotine, I didn’t know how he set that up but the guy has a strong grip.”
The win not only balanced out Caruso’s ONE record, but it also gave him goosebumps.
“It’s like Rocky, I felt like Rocky Balboa,” said Caruso who lost his promotional debut against Pieter Buist. “It’s a dream, and I made it come true.”