Before Eduard “Landslide” Folayang takes center stage at ONE: FIRE & FURY on Jan. 31, he will be enjoying a new accolade.
Folayang, who will be taking on Pieter “The Archangel” Buist at the Mall Of Asia Arena this Friday, was named as one of the 50 greatest Filipino athletes of all time last January 22 at the Sheraton Hotel in Makati.
Folayang joined the likes of boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, pool wizard Efren Bata Reyes, and four-time bowling World Champion Paeng Nepomuceno.
“Everything we do, we must put it to heart,” Folayang said.
“If we continue to embody the values of martial arts, then it will be easier to influence the people with what we do.”
The 36-year-old also credited ONE Championship for his meteoric rise from being a national wushu competitor to being one of the most recognizable faces in mixed martial arts.
“ONE is so instrumental in putting me where I am today. Their platform reaches far beyond the Philippines. We’re getting known outside of the country and it’s because of ONE Championship,” Folayang said.
“The good thing about it is that they’re focusing on the values of martial arts. I wouldn’t be here without ONE. I am always grateful because without them I would not have been part of this,” he said.
“[ONE CEO and Charmain] Chatri [Sityodtong] is doing such a great job in pushing for this because now you’ll see that many athletes want to join ONE Championship.”
While he has already cemented his legacy as an athlete having two runs as the ONE Lightweight World Champion and multiple gold medals as a wushu practitioner, Folayang does not plan to stop now.
The end goal will always be to inspire others—and he can do it better with positive results.
“One way or another, of course we need to win. The more you win, the more audience you inspire,” Folayang said.
“It’s hard to talk and influence people when the results are contrasting. When they see good results, for sure it will attract them.”
Folayang continues his legendary career when he takes on Buist at ONE: FIRE & FURY on 31 January at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
Watch the event live and dine with your ONE Championship heroes with the Boodle Feast VIP package, which includes two tickets for the event and access for two to the Boodle Feast on January 29 at the City Of Dreams.