MMA News: Eduard Folayang Defies Odds To Win Over John Wayne Parr At ONE X

Eduard Folayang could have not scripted his road to redemption any better as he defied odds and exceeded expectations by beating a man who’s revered as one of the best strikers to ever grace the realms of Muay Thai and kickboxing.

The 38-year-old native of Baguio City, Philippines turned in a vintage performance against the legendary John Wayne Parr, going full three rounds with the Australian icon to claim a lopsided unanimous decision victory at ONE X: Grand Finale on Saturday, March 26.

Folayang—a heavy-handed striker in mixed martial arts due to his decorated wushu sanda background —had Parr’s number from start to finish, targeting the body of his opponent with a series of stiff sidekicks and scoring his signature spinning backfist on several occasions throughout the contest.

The relentless attacks of “The Landslide” paid dividends in the second round, where he dropped Parr with a solid right straight off a striking combo near the cage fence.

Even though Folayang was in cruise control for the majority of the bout, the Filipino found himself in a dangerous spot as Parr was able to put him on wobbly legs with a few minutes remaining in the third and final frame.

With Parr sensing blood and seeking to close out his prizefighting career on a high note, “The Gunslinger” stepped on the gas pedal and increased the volume of his offense as the chance to put away the final opponent of his illustrious run was in front of him.

However, Folayang recovered and weathered the storm, swinging for the fences until the final bell.

When the scorecards were read, it only had one name on it—and it was Folayang’s.

With the Filipino’s rousing performance that had the crowd inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium on their feet, it denied Parr of clinching his 100th career win.

The Aussie walks away from both Muay Thai and kickboxing with a record of 99-35 with 46 victories by knockout.

In other fights, Yoshihiro Akiyama stunned the world after pulling off the improbable second-round knockout of former ONE lightweight champion Shinya Aoki in the second round.

ONE X: Grand Finale was off to a great start as Superbon Singha Mawynn tightened his grip of the kickboxing featherweight belt with a striking clinic to outpoint Marat Grigorian by way of unanimous decision.

To conclude ONE X: Part II, Thai mega-star Nong-O Gaiyanghado kept the coveted Muay Thai bantamweight championship around his waist with a one-punch knockout of Brazil’s Felipe Lobo in the third round.