FOLAYANG MAY START JOURNEY AS LION’S NATION MMA FIGHTER SOON

August 5, 2023 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY

Eduard Folayang, the country’s and maybe Asia’s most recognizable mixed martial arts faces, may will return to octagon anytime soon. He said he will make a comeback anytime this “Ber” months
against an undisclosed opponent, nine months after his last fight in Manila in December last hear.
Folayang told mediamen Wednesday said that he is ready to get back to fighting to maximize “the remaining years” in his MMA journey. “It will be soon, maybe in September or October,” said the
former two time ONE Championship’s lightweight king.

“I’m really preparing for this (fight) which will serve as an icing when I left Team Lakay,” said the 39 year old three time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in wushu sandas. Folayang will be one of the first Lion’s Nation MMA fighter to see action after the big split with Team Lakay this year. He has actually signed a contract with the Singaporean MMA promoter along with former ONE bantamweight king Kevin Belingon, former straw weight king Joshua Pacio, Jeremy Pacatiw and the Graceful Jenelyn Olsim.

All but Belingon saw action in December 3 last year where only Pacatiw won, including one of the three fight of the night awards worth US$50,000. Folayang, meanwhile, denied of rumours of the dissatisfaction with his long time partner, Team mate, stable mate and coach Mark Sangiao leading to the split. “It was just to maximize my remaining time as a fighter. I still want to fight now as I transition to teaching and coaching,” he said.

Folayang said that mentoring is the direction many of those who joined him in Lion’s Nation are going but it may take a little time for that as fighting remains a priority. “Eventually all of us will
have his gym, like what I have now, the Landslide gym. Kevin, Joshua or Danny (Kingad),” he said. He likewise reiterated that Landslide gym is his own, while the group is Lion’s Nation MMA where everyone has a claim, a stake and responsibility or role to play which is still being ironed out.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN