THERE's no denying the impact that former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard "Landslide" Folayang had on Philippine MMA. Some of the best young fighters from the country often credit him as inspiration for their careers.
But he's not done yet. Folayang looks to even the score against longtime rival Shinya Aoki at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on March 23 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan in a rare quadrilogy between two lightweight greats, with the Japanese fighter holding a 2-1 lead in the series.
READ: Folayang stays busy ahead of showdown with Aoki at ONE 172
With Aoki possibly retiring after this showdown, this is Folayang's last chance to tie the count with the legendary Japanese competitor, which is why he's leaving no stone unturned in preparation for this match.
But before that, let's take a look at the five biggest moments of Eduard Folayang's career.
Legend vs. Legend In Muay Thai
As one of the promotion's pioneers, Folayang was a natural choice for ONE X, the promotion's tenth anniversary show in Japan.
But he wasn't there to compete as a mixed martial artist. He tested the waters in Muay Thai, tasked with giving legendary Aussie striker John Wayne Parr a perfect send-off for his illustrious career.
He and the Aussie put on a show for the fans, with Folayang scoring a second-round knockdown. Then he survived Parr's late fightback in the third to create an exciting finish to send the Muay Thai legend off in the best way possible.
After three rounds, Folayang took home the hard-earned decision win in his first and only official Muay Thai bout.
"He Still Got It!" Folayang Ends Skid By Stopping Amir Khan
On a five-fight losing streak, Folayang met an old foe in Amir Khan in a match that dictated his career trajectory moving forward.
Another loss here would've been devastating for the Filipino as not only would he absorb his sixth straight defeat but also spoil his debut as a member of Lions Nation MMA after leaving Team Lakay months back.
But he showed that he still has plenty left in his gas tank as he not only asserted his mastery over the Singaporean, he did what he wasn't able to do years back when he knocked out Khan in the third round of their clash at ONE Fight Night 14.
Folayang Defends Crown In Manila
After becoming a ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion for the first time, Folayang's first order of duty was to defend the World Title against Ev Ting in front of his compatriots at Mall of Asia Arena, and he delivered.
Performing in front of more than 20,000 adoring fans in Manila, Folayang outworked, outstruck, and outright dominated the Malaysian mixed martial artist en route to a shutout unanimous decision win after five rounds.
They say one's never truly a champion until he defends his belt. Folayang did just that and immortalized himself in ONE Championship lore by putting on a show for his compatriots in the Philippines.
Reclaiming The Throne
Filipino fans were given the shock of their lives when Martin Nguyen finished off Folayang with a knockout punch in 2017 to win the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title.
But "Landslide" was determined to get that belt back, and while he didn't take it from Nguyen, he did give his compatriots who watched in horror a nice palate cleanser by reclaiming the vacant belt a year later.
Folayang racked up back-to-back wins against Kharun Atlangeriev and Aziz Pahrudinov to earn a shot at the vacant ONE Lightweight MMA World Title against Khan in the very place where he lost it.
The pride of Baguio City dominated Khan for the full five rounds, erasing the memories of his loss to Nguyen a year before and winning the crown for the second time in his career.
A Lion Rises In Lion City
The reason why Shinya Aoki means so much to Eduard Folayang's career is because the Filipino's career skyrocketed with the victory over the Japanese superstar.
Coming in as a huge underdog as a challenger to Aoki, Folayang ended the submission wizard's nine-fight win streak and took the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title in the process by stopping him in the third round at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
After defending every attempt from Aoki to dominate on the ground, Folayang got his chance at a finish in the third when he flattened Aoki with a knee before raining down punches to get the biggest win of his career.
Will he score another one against Aoki before the Japanese calls it a career? We'll find out soon enough.
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