How soon will Eduard Folayang be ONE Championship’s lightweight kingpin again?

Eduard Folayang

The ONE Championship lightweight title picture is a crowded one with many top contenders vying for pole position on who gets to challenge for the title next. The current kingpin in the division is a two-division champion aiming for his third belt.

Representing Team Lakay, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, 34, of the Philippines is nearly a year removed from last having the world title around his waist.But the dream of being once again recognized as the best in the world lingers and it is a dream that he says he will continue to chase for as long as necessary.

“Lightweight is one of the deepest divisions in the organization, and there are so many great guys all wanting to get to the top,” Folayang noted. “I have to keep winning so I can stay in the mix.”

Following a tremendous all-around performance against Kharun “Predator” Atlangeriev, 25, of Russia on May 18, 2018, Folayang is in a tremendous position to put together a solid little winning streak. If the Team Lakay fighter emerges victorious in his next outing, he could very well strengthen his case for another shot at the lightweight belt.

“I felt good in my last bout, honestly although, of course, I always feel like I could have done just a little better,” Folayang stated. “I am always looking at how I can get better in every aspect. I feel like my wrestling and my grappling has reached a new level over the past few months.”

On July 27, 2018, Folayang will face Aziz Pahrudinov, 29, of Russia at “ONE: Reign of Kings” at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The latter is a ONE Championship debutante.

Folayang lost the ONE Lightweight World Championship to Martin "The Situ-Asian" Nguyen, 29, of Australia and Vietnam on November 10, 2017 at "ONE: Legends of the World" at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Currently reigning as the ONE Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, Nguyen will compete against Folayang's Team Lakay teammate Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon, 30, for the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Champion. 

“There’s a lot of room to improve,” Folayang said. “But little by little, I’ll get to where I need to be.”

Meanwhile, here is Folayang and his fellow ONE Championship stars and Global Citizen ambassadors Brandon “The Truth” Vera, 40, of the Philippines and Angela “Unstoppable” Lee, 21, of Singapore:

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