WATCH: Eduard Folayang side kicks his way to rebound win in ONE battle

MANILA, Philippines – Six months ago, Eduard Folayang lost his ONE Lightweight Championship to Vietnamese-Australian Martin Nguyen after getting blindsided by a straight jab after a spin kick attempt.

In a split-second, Folayang’s bread and butter move cost him his title and 4-match winning streak.

Fast-forward to today, a smarter Folayang rebounded in a big way, staining the undefeated record of Russia’s Kharun Atlangeriev via a unanimous decision at ONE Unstoppable Dreams in Singapore, Friday, May 18.

True to his moniker, Folayang went full-on “Landslide” with a flurry of wincing side kicks to the tough Russian. This time, however, the Team Lakay stalwart never took his steely gaze away from his adversary, as side kicks can be executed quicker without needing to spin.

The change in strategy worked to great effect, as Folayang transitioned to a dominant mount with every kick that landed on Atlangeriev’s body and head around the 10-second mark of the highlight clip.

Throughout the fight, Folayang utilized that same kick to keep the Russian at length in between a few ground-and-pound attempts. As the dust settled, the two warriors went the distance and the Filipino’s hand was raised in victory.

With the win – his 19th in 23 fights – “Landslide” is now back on the hunt for the title he lost to a fighter who idolized him.  – Rappler.com