Eduard Folayang relishes underdog role against Shinya Aoki

Nissi Icasiano

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Eduard Folayang relishes underdog role against Shinya Aoki
For the third straight time in 2016, Folayang will be sitting in the blue corner, where underdogs or challengers are designated in a match

SINGAPORE – While many cageside observers are counting out Eduard Folayang in his ONE Championship lightweight title clash against longtime division kingpin Shinya Aoki, the Filipino fighter revealed that his underdog role gives him the extra drive to win. 

Folayang faces Aoki in the main event of ONE Championship’s “Defending Honor” card, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, November 11.

Fighting for the first time in a world title contest, the 32-year-old Baguio City native stressed that being an underdog in the 5-round encounter with Aoki heightens his hunger to walk away with the ONE Championship lightweight belt around his waist. 

“It’s good to be an underdog because it boosts my motivation to win. When you’re an underdog, others believe that you have a small chance to win. But in some instances, some fighters use it as an extra drive in their fights,” he told Rappler. 

For the third straight time in 2016, Folayang will be sitting in the blue corner, where underdogs or challengers are designated in a match. 

Although Folayang was representing the blue corner, he won his last two fights, outclassing Japanese veteran Tetsuya Yamada in 3 rounds in January and then surviving a grueling encounter with Australian stalwart Adrian Pang in August. 

“Blue is a lucky color for me this year. I have no problem if I will be in the blue or red corner. What matters right now is that I’m fighting for the title, and I am going to give everything to bring home the belt,” Folayang stated. 

With only two days to go before the biggest fight in his illustrious 9-year professional career, Folayang did not mince words about his excitement as his dream to become a mixed martial arts world champion is within his reach. 

“There’s a time and a season for everything. This time the season is given to me for this title shot. I waited for 5 long years before I got this shot. I believe I deserve to be fighting the champion. I believe this is my time,” he said. – Rappler.com

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