MIXED martial arts legend Eduard “Landslide” Folayang believes that it would be massive for the Filipino fighters if ever their number is called for ONE 168: Denver.
And make no mistake, even he wants to fight at the Ball Arena come Sept. 7 (Manila time).
“Sobrang nakaka-motivate,” he said. “S yempre bilang fighter, gusto ko rin makalaro doon. And I’m sure yung iba ding fighters, same ang pakiramdam dahil hindi pa tayo nakakalaban sa arena na yun.”
The former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion, who now heads Lions Nation MMA, also thinks that it would be a full circle moment for him.
After all, it was just last year when Folayang and reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio have gone on a two-month sojourn in the United States to train with elite coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn of Jackson Wink MMA and Rafael Cordeiro of King’s MMA.
“Napakarami naming natutunan sa US and hindi lang sa laban kundi sa decision making namin. Kaya maganda kung makasubok din kami na lumaban doon,” he said.
Though he’s leaving it up to the ONE Championship brass to make those decisions, Folayang is confident that there will be enough support from our Pinoy kababayans there in the United States if ever a Filipino gets picked.
“That means may market talaga tayo sa US,” he said.
ONE 168: Denver will feature a stacked card bannered by reigning two-sport ONE World Champion Jonathan Haggerty defending his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship against current ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.
ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Stamp Fairtex will also attempt to become a two-division titleholder when she challenges Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE Women’s Strawweight MMA World Title; ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo defends his title against fellow American Mikey Musumeci; and Liam Harrison finally getting his wish to mix it up with Seksan in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout.
Tickets for ONE 168: Denver, which marks the return of The Home of Martial Arts in the United States, are on sale now via Ticketmaster.