Eduard Folayang of Team Lakay calls boxing legend Manny Pacquiao his inspiration as he tries to make a name in MMA fighting. Folayang, will face Japanese MMA fighter Shinya Aoki in the “ONE Championship: Defending Honor” title fight on November 11.
Pacquiao’s win against Vargas proves that he is one of the great Filipino athletes. In an Inquirer report, Folayang said that Pacquiao’s “unorthodox and unconventional way of boxing” has made him a legend in the sports.
What Manny Pacquiao Did In Boxing, Folayang Wants To Do in MMA
In his nine years as an MMA fighter, Folayang entered the international competition only in 2011. Since then, he has slowly built up his reputation as a strong fighter. According to him, he wants to achieve in his field what Manny has already done in boxing. In the end, he wants mixed martial arts to be a sport that will be a “huge inspiration to the youth.”
As it is, Folayang who also goes by the nickname “Landslide” has become well-known in the Philippine MMA scene. He hails from Baguio and is part of Team Lakay, a known martial arts group based in the Summer Capital.
Long Road To Championship Fight
This once in a lifetime championship fight, if he succeeds, will cement Folayang’s international comeback to the sport. According to a report, it took Folayang two years to recover from a huge loss in 2014. After two major wins against high-ranked MMA fighters, he regained his stature giving him a chance at the Lightweight title.
On November 11, he challenges title holder and MMA legend Shinya Aoki, from Japan. The ONE Championship: Defending Honor will be held in Singapore.
Eduardo Folayang: Fight A Legend To be A Legend
In another report, Folayang said he is beefing up his ground defense because this is the strength of his opponent. As part of his training, he has been working on his ground defense. Being his area of weakness, this training will give him a better chance at snagging the title.
For Folayang however, the title is not the only valuable thing he will get from this bout. Once he beats Aoki, who is considered a legend in Asia, he can be called a legend in his own right too. According to the report, this is Folayang’s first title fight in his career.
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