Eduard Folayang looks to set the tone for co-Pinoy fighters in ONE Fight Night

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend Eduard Folayang will have a tough task in the upcoming ONE Fighting Championship Fight Night 5 event this coming Saturday.

Despite already marking his name as one of the best lightweights the world has ever seen, Folayang will be placed in a new position after years of fighting in the main event.

The Team Lakay leader will be going up against heavy striker Edson Marques from Brazil and will be the first fighter to go out of backstage and give the Filipino fans a treat.

Folayang is hoping for a huge win that can spark his teammates Joshua Pacio, Jeremy Pacatiw, Jenelyn Olsim, Geje Eustaquio, and Denice Zamboanga who are all fighting in the card.

“Of course, I want to bring fireworks being the one starting it. The fire will start in the lead card and we’ll make sure to give you the best show this Saturday,” said Folayang during the pre-fight press conference.

Folayang is coming off a huge victory against co-ONE legend Wayne Parr via an impressive unanimous decision nine months ago and is looking to notch his second consecutive win.

The two-time ONE lightweight king shut retirement rumors after accepting the Parr fight and showed a new dimension of his striking game.

Folayang picked Parr apart during their ‘Clash of the Legends’ and displayed a new offensive arsenal with the use of his leg kicks.

Aside from his consistent stand-up attack, Folayang also showed better stamina and kept his composure until the match ended.

Meanwhile, Marques is also coming off a convincing victory against Kyung Rok Kim during ONE 158 last June 3, 2022.

Marques only lost two bouts in his 12 professional fights and once reached the contender rank after racking nine-straight wins from 2012-2019.

“My fight with John Wayne was very special. It boosts my confidence and it made me realize that I can hang around with any striker,” added Folayang.