Eduard Folayang preparing for ‘make-or-break’ fight against Zhang Lipeng
Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is determined to prove that he can still compete with the lightweight division’s elite and challenge for the gold once again.
The Filipino hero will start by trying to dispatch Chinese mixed martial arts star “The Warrior” Zhang Lipeng at ONE: BATTLEGROUND II, a previously recorded event that airs on Friday, 13 August.
“I see [the fight] as a make-or-break, meaning break in a literal way that it will be the fight that will break my skid of losses,” Folayang said.
“Every fight is important to me, so yes, I need to be so focused to make it this time. This fight against Zhang means a lot because it will give me the opportunity to step forward again, one step closer to my goal of becoming a champion once more.”
The legendary Folayang hasn’t been in a good spot as of late, but his fire and desire to make things happen hasn’t been extinguished yet.
He’s no spring chicken, but the 36-year-old knows he still has plenty to give, and if he can rain down on the Chinese star’s debut, he might even turn a few naysayers into believers.
“I’m not yet done. In fact, I’m more fired up than ever,” Folayang said.
“All I do is pray harder and train smarter. I believe that in the right time, I will be able to get rid of that skid. And that’s why me and my team are working together to bring the win home this time.”
For “Landslide,” this isn’t just an opportunity for him to get back in the saddle and regain his throne, it’s also a way of showing his fans and followers the result of not giving up.
“I want everyone to see and learn how failures will turn into victories if we keep enduring and never give up on our dreams and goals,” the former three-time ONE Lightweight World Champion said.
“That’s just the message that I want to convey: Never give up on your dreams and never stop improving. Just keep on fighting, continue to watch and learn from others, and be receptive to the advice coming from your coach and team.”
Folayang is so fired up that he already has a few athletes he wants to compete with after this bout.
But that can wait, as his focus remains solely on “The Warrior.”
Zhang has been absolutely dominant in the Chinese scene over the past seven years, as he chalked up 21 victories. He is hoping to carry that success over to the global stage of ONE Championship, so “Landslide” knows his full attention must remain on the task at hand.
“I still have lots of names I have in mind that I want to fight, one of which being that canceled match against [Yoshihiro] Akiyama,” Folayang said. “But right now, I need to focus on who’s in front of me, and that is Zhang. Everything will just follow from there.”
Folayang wants to inspire fans with his performance, and now those same fans can own some of the Filipino hero’s swag. Enter for a chance to win a Folayang autographed ONE hoodie and other goodies by clicking here, and don’t forget to watch ONE: BATTLEGROUND II on 13 August! Find out more about the card and how you can watch it in the Philippines.
ADVT
