Philippines, 14 Mar 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Tracking the real Eduard Folayang, MMA star


PhilBoxing.com





THE name of Eduard Folayang rings out first whenever they talk about a Filipino mixed martial arts star in various Philippine localities.

He is the best known mixed martial arts practitioner in the country, with roots in the Mountain Province, where he has become an adored star and model citizen.

When Folayang, out of nowhere, won a first world title, there was a frantic call from a female poet friend, vowing to make Folayang available for an interview.

?Write about him, this is incredible, the first time this has happened,? she swooned.

**

Of course, it was wholly Manny Pacquiao as the dominant neighborhood hero when it comes to professional fighting.
But Folayang was readily being propped up as an up-and-coming great international warrior.

Out in the city wet market sports hub, Folayang?s name started to ripple.

?Magkano kinikita niya, was he making at least a hundred thousand,? asked Boss Bobby the main man in the wet market meat section.

This was some three years ago, the period when Folayang was being marketed hard for his lightweight title defense at the Mall of Asia.

The event was called the ONE World Championship.

The title defense would be a big confirmation, as the great Flash Elorde loved to put it; because winning a first title was only the baptism.

**

So there was Folayang at center stage, luminous, muscular, a bronze icon in his sold-out appearance at the MOA. He was a quiet barrel of power preparing to explode.

Would he jump out and stop his foreign challenger in a single blaze?

Damn, what happened was terribly surreal, Folayang, a willing target, took one big solid kick to the head.

He was instantly down, beaten, conquered, crownless in less than a minute.

The whole MOA was dumbfounded. What followed was a tragic trek back to the Mountain Province for countless Folayang adorers.

**

He was not shattered. Pride intact, the poor fellow vowed to be back.

There was not much about him hereabouts while mixed martial arts proceeded to make waves all over the world.

Unknown to many, Folayang had gone on to recapture his lost ONE crown.

Did he do it in Singapore? Wherever. The greater thing was that he was again lined up for a crown defense. This was last Sunday, March 31, in Tokyo, the Ryogou Kokugikan gym.

His outfit?Team Lakay?prepared hard, making sure it had packed everything for the Tokyo trip.

There was a tense, excited wait Then Folayang was there again, every inch a world champion, solid bronze, the poster boy of MMA in the Philippines.

**

The ONE lightweight championship started with Folayang taut, waiting keenly. Japanese Shinya Aoki, pale and lighter, let out a couple of sharp kids, which Folayang ably dodged.

Folayang himself dug a punch to the belly, before trying one big kick, which missed.

Folayang was trying to do the fighting from outside, but was next grabbed by Aoaki, a submission artist.

It appeared Folayang was gaining the upper hand in the tight skirmish, but Aoki rammed up, and rode Folayang on the shoulder, thereby toppling and pinning him down.

With his might, greater build, Folayang had the chance to spring back. No way, he was pinned under, caught breathless in a choking triangular arm lock.

There was bedlam at ringside as Folayang, tagged out at 2:34 of the first round.

**

Team Lakay was all but wiped out.

It took the referee a total of three calls before Folayang moved to center ring to join his Japanese conqueror.

Was it the real Edward Folayang, and not a caricature, who showed up in Tokyo last Sunday.

After the award ceremonies, Folayang, definitely the real one, said he made a big mistake.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Japan Crowns Second Unified Champion But Loses, Fails to Win Another Belt
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 14 Mar 2025
  • Weights From Bethlehem, PA
    , Fri, 14 Mar 2025
  • QUOTES FROM FINAL WILLIAMS VS. VOLNY PRESS CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO
    , Fri, 14 Mar 2025
  • May 4: Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez Featherweight World Title Battle Confirmed as Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas Co-Feature at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 14 Mar 2025
  • DEVASTATING EXIT FOR DEFENDING CHAMPION KRAUSE
    , Fri, 14 Mar 2025
  • Fight Results from Sanman Boxing Event at Bula Gymnasium in General Santos City
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • Flores Family: Filipino Fistic Fury
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • March 22 fight card at Tropicana Atlantic City has strong local flavor
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • Inoue to Fight Cardenas in the USA on May 4, Another "Expensive" Mismatch Expected
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • PH's Top Chess Players to See Action at DG's Cup 2025 Invitational Chess Tournament This Friday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • A Monster May: Pound-For-Pound King Naoya Inoue to Defend Undisputed Junior Featherweight Crown Against Ramon Cardenas May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • HACKETT SEEKS ROMAN REVENGE IN ORLANDO
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • World Boxing approves applications from National Federations in China, Turkey, Sudan, Greece, Montenegro and Slovakia to increase membership to 84 countries
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • SAMPSON BOXING SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH UNDEFEATED MEXICAN SUPER WELTERWEIGHT ISAAC LUCERO
    , Thu, 13 Mar 2025
  • Athletes secure guaranteed prize money on day three of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš
    , Wed, 12 Mar 2025
  • Chances Are: Top Rank Signs Amateur Standout Emmanuel Chance
    , Wed, 12 Mar 2025
  • Johnny Wellem Andam Carzano tops Iligan chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Mar 2025
  • April 5: Unbeaten Standouts Albert Gonzalez and Steven Navarro Added to Richard Torrez Jr.-Guido Vianello Card at Palms Casino Resort LIVE on ESPN+
    , Wed, 12 Mar 2025
  • Hatice Akbas confident of second gold medal at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 12 Mar 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Event Set as Fighters Successfully Make Weight in General Santos City
    , Tue, 11 Mar 2025
  • Filipina Boxing Champions Norj Guro and Wenie Cline Verano Seek Guidance from Promoter Brico Santig for Career Advancement
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 10 March 2025: Lauren Price Outpoints Natasha Jonas to Unify IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC Welter Titles
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025
  • A Pilgrimage of Gratitude: Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025
  • Bye Bye Dallas Mavericks - From Finalists to Also Run (Again)?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025
  • Justin Viloria's Star Continues to Rise
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.