The stage has been set for former ONE Lightweight World Champions Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki to finish their rivalry.
Folayang and Aoki will complete their trilogy at “ONE on TNT IV,” which airs on April 29 on One Sports.
Folayang was supposed to tangle with Yoshihiro “Sexyama” Akiyama, but the Japanese-Korean star pulled out due to injuries sustained during training.
Aoki, on the other hand, was on track for a showdown with American sensation “Super” Sage Northcutt, but the 25-year-old also had to withdraw because of COVID-19 concerns.
With both of their schedules clear, it was only right to give the two pillars of the division a chance to settle the score.
It was Folayang who drew the first victory in this rivalry, as he shocked the world with a third-round TKO of the heavily favored Aoki in 2016 to win the ONE Lightweight World Title for the first time.
Three years later, Aoki evened the score, and it happened at ONE: A NEW ERA in Folayang’s second reign as World Champion.
Aoki made quick work of Folayang this time around, submitting the Filipino via arm triangle in the first round to win the ONE Lightweight World Title once more.
Now it’s all about pride for the two men, as whoever comes out on top will have the distinction of winning the most important rivalry in the division.
In the main event, another score will be settled as ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang takes on longtime rival Vitaly Bigdash for the aforementioned strap.
This will also be the third time they tangle after scoring one win apiece in 2017, where they competed for the ONE Middleweight World Title.
Up next, watch the previously recorded “ONE on TNT II” on ONE Sports or ONE Sports+ at 8:30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT) on Thursday, April 15.
Both ONE Sports and ONE Sports+ will have an encore showing at 8:30 p.m. PHT on Friday, April 16.
Also, there will be an encore showing on TV5 at 12 a.m. PHT on Sunday, April 18.