Eduard Folayang looks for KO win over Shinya Aoki

SINGAPORE – In the first world title bout of his 9-year professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career, Filipino fighter Eduard Folayang would like to leave no doubts as he steps into the cage with ONE Championship lightweight kingpin Shinya Aoki.

Both men are set to duke it out 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.

Considering his 5-round championship clash against Aoki as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Folayang revealed his fearless intention of securing a stoppage victory.

“I’ve waited for this shot at the title for a long time. Expect that I will do everything in order to win. With no regrets, I want to say someday that I was able to make it,” he said.

Folayang has not been able to finish an opponent since January 2012 when he forced Wadson Teixeira to wave the white flag in just 56 seconds with elbow shots under the Universal Reality Combat Championship banner.

The 32-year-old Baguio City native owns 5 knockout wins and two submission triumphs in his 21-fight record, but since his rancorous hammering of Teixeira, he went into winning 5 of his last 9 bouts via decision.

Folayang stressed he is prepared to go the distance with Aoki, but shutting the lights out on the proud Japanese champion is on top of his priority list.

“I will try my best to get that because if I will have it my way, I want to finish the fight in that manner,” he said.

Although Aoki is known to be a kryptonite to lethal strikers like Folayang due to his specialization in the grappling department, the Japanese veteran does not possess a granite chin as he has been knocked out 4 times in his prizefighting run.

Before embarking on an impressive 9-fight winning streak, Aoki suffered a first-round technical knockout loss at the hands of Eddie Alvarez in April 2012.

“Fighting in his comfort zone will definitely give him an advantage. But I know for a fact that there’s a way out of it. We studied his old fights. I saw areas where I can execute an escape in case I get caught by him,” Folayang said of Aoki’s fighting style. 

Folayang vows to shock the world by walking out of the Singapore Indoor Stadium with his hand raised as he will not wait for another 5 years for the chance to become an MMA world champion.

“I am 100% ready for this fight,” said Folayang. “I worked hard to be on this stage. It took me years. I am here to seize the moment. I won’t wait for another long time just to have a chance to be a champion.” – Rappler.com