MANILA – Prepare for a “Landslide” this April.
Eduard Folayang is due to make his first ONE lightweight title defense in his home turf on April 21.
ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong said Folayang will be lined up together with fellow ONE champion, welterweight king Ben Askren, in a card that hasn't been named yet.
"We’re gonna have Ben Askren defending his title, we also have Eduard Folayang defending his title, and we’ll have a bunch of other Filipino superstars on the card."
Folayang wrested the lightweight crown from Shinya Aoki despite being a massive 10-1 underdog against the Japanese grappling legend last November.
“In order to become a legend, you have to beat a legend . . . and he did that despite being destroyed by Shinya in the first round,” said Sityodtong. “Eduard Folayang showed what it’s like to conquer the odds.”
So massive was Folayang's upset win that he was named as ONE Championship's 2016 Fighter of the Year.
The ONE Championship executive said they will announce Folayang’s challenger soon.
He added that several Filipino fighters will also be added to the April card that will take place at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Folayang welcomed the news, although he acknowledged that there will be some pressure since it will be his first time to fight at home as champion.
"Hindi mawawala ang pressure, kahit nasa ibang bansa ka, how much more dito sa Pilipinas na malaki ang expectation?" Folayang said.
"(That's why) the best na magagawa natin is to prepare early."
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