Reliving Eduard Folayang’s Victory Over Shinya Aoki And Its Importance To Philippine MMA

On November 11, 2016, Eduard Folayang shocked the mixed martial arts world by defeating Shinya Aoki in the main event of ONE: Defending Honor for the promotion’s lightweight title.

The gravity of the event could not be understated enough as it was Folayang’s very first title opportunity in the entirety of his nine-year career up to that point.

Add in the fact that the fighter out of Baguio City in the Philippines had not been able to finish an opponent since January 2012, and it only makes his accomplishment that much sweeter.

Aoki had never been defeated since 2012, finishing seven out of nine fights prior to facing the Team Lakay standout.

For the better part of two rounds, the legendary Japanese grappler seemed as if he had the Filipino icon’s number after taking control of him on the ground in the first and had spent most of the second round regaining his stamina before taking Folayang back on the ground.

However, Folayang tagged Aoki when he was closing in for a takedown attempt and it was a sign of things to come.

The tide swiftly shifted in Folayang’s favor in the third round.

Aoki got careless to start it off, and Folayang fired a massive flying knee to Aoki’s chin. Pinning the Japanese along the cage fence allowed the Filipino to repeatedly fire right hands before the referee stepped in and called a halt to the contest.

“We just had a good game plan. I was surprised by how strong he was in the first round. But when I saw his lips starting to get busted, it was then that I know that I only have to maintain my stamina for the succeeding rounds. I knew I could win," Folayang told Rappler’s Nissi Icasiano.

Though Aoki would win their next two fights via submission, the first fight had already established Folayang’s legacy as arguably one of the greatest Filipino MMA fighters.

It was a watershed moment for Philippine MMA and Team Lakay as a whole, proving that they can produce world-class talent.

More ONE Championship standouts would emerge from the famed Baguio City training camp, headed by trainer Mark Sangiao, like reigning strawweight king Joshua Pacio and former titleholders Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon and Geje Eustaquiao.

They have also excelled in producing standout female talents like Jenelyn Olsim, Gina Iniong and April Osenio.

Five years to the day since Folayang’s victory, and yet the memory of the moment lives on as if it had just happened yesterday.