‘True legend’ Folayang fighting at ONE X card a must, says Chatri

Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang during ONE X press conference at Singapore Indoor Stadium. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO

SINGAPORE–More than a decade since headlining ONE Championship’s first card here, decorated Filipino fighter Eduard Folayang is back once again in the main event of the promotion’s 10th anniversary event.

It was in the same venue where Folayang beat veteran South Korean fighter A Sol Kwon by unanimous decision in ONE FC 1 on September 3, 2011 to kick start his journey into becoming one of the most recognizable names in the Philippine mixed martial arts stage.

Chatri Sityodtong, the founder and CEO of ONE Championship, said it was a no-brainer to include Folayang in the star studded ONE X card that features 20 fights including five world title bouts at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

“I’m grateful for Eduard. I still remember our first event, no one heard about us [yet], no one knew us, but we did pack a stadium. To watch Eduard headline [that], I’m truly grateful. I still remember our fight posters as well. I remember how he won and everything,” said Sityodtong.

“It’s also a testament to his legendary status. He’s competed in the highest level in the world for a decade and he said yes immediately to fighting in the special rules set against a legend like Parr, and that’s a tall order for anybody.”

Folayang is set to face retiring John Wayne Parr, a legend in the discipline of Muay Thai, in a special “wushu vs. Muay Thai legends fight.”

“I’m so happy that Chatri [Sityodtong] that included me here. It’s been a long journey. The excitement that I feel with how ONE Championship put on their work to achieve their vision and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

The Team Lakay star has been on four-fight slump, last losing to Zhang Lipeng in August 2021 in ONE: Battleground 2. But he had no hesitations signing up for a fight against a Muay Thai icon like Parr, who will be hanging up his gloves whether he gets his 100th career victory or not.

That kind of fighting spirit is what Sityodtong admires the most about the Team Lakay stalwart who is easily considered one of the greatest Filipino MMA fighters of all time.

“You look at Eduard, he’s never ever turned down a fight–ever. He’s never chosen an opponent. He’s a true legend so there was no choice, we had to have Eduard on the card,” Sityodtong said.