Filipino MMA fighters Folayang, Docyogen score ONE FC wins

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) frontrunner Eduard Folayang used his superior stand-up prowess to overpower former ONE FC lightweight titlist Kotetsu Boku in the co-headliner of ONE FC: Rise of Heroes on Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Relying on his vast arsenal of tenacious striking options, Folayang had the clear advantage from bell to bell, claiming the unanimous decision.

Similar to his three-round encounter versus Vincent Latoel this past December, the 5-foot-9 Baguio City native showed off his grappling pedigree, toying Boku with conventional takedowns and a Judo throw.

Folayang was seeking for the conclusion in the dying seconds of the first round as he locked a spongy armbar submission.

Moreover, the well-renowned highlander changed the pace in the second stanza, where he fastened a deep guillotine choke that spanned for almost thirty seconds.

Boku was able to shrug off the hold and had a moment to pummel Folayang at the bottom with grave shots to the head.

As the action returned to feet, Folayang ended the second round with a shattering spinning back-kick that landed flush on Boku’s face.

The 36-year-old “No Face” obviously did not crave for more swapping of leather with Folayang as the seasoned Japanese combatant continuously moved away and evaded big blasts from his Pinoy foe.

However, Folayang came out like a surging ox as he swung wild blows and then followed it up a straight right that dropped his opponent.

Desiring to attain his first stoppage since January 2011, Folayang threw more impulsive kicks to the body and subsequently staggered few more punches to the skull until the final bell.

With his impressive outing against Boku, Folayang inserted his name once again in the title picture as he improves his professional record to 14-4 and is riding high on a two-fight winning streak.

In his post-fight interview, the 29-year-old “Landslide” did not hesitate to call for a championship shot against Shinya Aoki, the current ONE FC 155-pound king.

“I always want to fight the best in this division, and of course, I want the ONE FC belt. I have been working for it ever since,” Folayang said.

Meanwhile, Folayang’s Team Lakay colleague Rey Docyogen is back on the winning track by dominating Guamanian flyweight Josh Alvarez in three rounds to pick up an undivided nod from the judges.

The 31-year-old “Punisher” mauled Alvarez with his two fists in the stand-up exchange and then continued the onslaught by outwrestling the 5-foot-5 “Hedgehog” in his own game.

Docyogen’s well-rounded performance snaps his two-fight losing skid and earns him his first victory inside the ONE FC cage.

Fernandes retains bantamweight title

Bibiano Fernandes outwrestled Masakatsu Ueda in five rounds to successfully defend his ONE FC bantamweight title via unanimous decision in the main event.

The 5-foot-7 “Flash” was the aggressor from the get-go, scoring an early takedown and later advancing to first mount and then back control.

Despite Ueda’s effort of trying to shrug off the hold, Fernandes ended the opening salvo by hunting for a rear-naked choke from behind.

Fernandes continued to implement his grappling leverage over Ueda in the second and third frames, but the 36-year-old Japanese kept his back against the fence and attempted to incessantly circle away to avoid quick shots.

As the pace slowed down in the fourth round, Ueda commenced to press forward, slapping a solid left kick from his southpaw posture that put a welt under the left eye of Fernandes.

However, it did not stop Fernandes to quickly advance to superior positions courtesy of his brusque one-two combinations and a follow-up takedown.

In the fifth round, the AMC Pankration standout delivered a crisp right hand and then secured a takedown to neutralize Ueda.

Ueda, who won the ONE FC Bantamweight Grand Prix last year to have a shot at the belt, was in need of a stoppage and began to throw body kicks.

Eventually, Fernandes caught a foot-strike from Ueda and then dragged him down to the canvas once more until the final bell rang.

All three cageside officials saw it in favor of Fernandes, who revealed in his post-fight interview that he might have injured his leg.

“I think I broke my leg in the second or third round, but I still gave everything I had to finish the fight and win,” he stated.

Fernandes extends his winning streak to eight matches and improves his professional record to 16-3.

Earlier in the night, former WBO junior featherweight titleholder Ana Julaton defeated Egyptian kickboxer Aya Saber at 59 seconds of the third round.

In other matches, Rob Lisita settled his grudge with rival Yusuke Kawanago by polishing off the one-time Legend FC featherweight titlist with heavy strikes on the ground in the first round.

Former UFC fighter James McSweeney stopped highly-touted Australian heavyweight Chris Lokteff with a vicious knee in the opening salvo, while Leandro Ataides scored a first-round knockout against Japanese veteran combatant Tatsuya Mizuno. – Rappler.com