ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is in the midst of the most exciting moment in his career.
The 33 year-old has won three-straight fights, including his most recent and significant one — a TKO over the legendary Shinya Aoki last November — and will defend his title for the first time on 21 April at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY.
Still, the Baguio City native has others on his mind in the days leading up to his next contest. Folayang doesn’t just want to win for himself and his family, but also to continue representing his city, nation, and world of supporters.“It’s something that’s constantly on my mind whenever I step inside the cage,” Folayang shares. “I don’t just fight for myself. I fight for everyone who believes in me.”Folayang knows well the positive impact that role models can have on young people.
“When I was younger, my friends and I would play a lot of contact games. I would pretend I was ‘Onyok’ [former boxing champion Mansueto Velasco], and that’s really what drew me to combat sports,” he continued, before citing track and field star Elma Muros and basketball great Michael Jordan as other inspirations.“Elma [Muros] and ‘Onyok’ taught me to be proud of my country, and gave me the drive to represent the Philippines. It’s what pushed me to strive for success in wushu,” says Folayang. “They inspired me to one day be like them, representing the Philippines on the international arena. Michael Jordan taught me leadership and the importance of execution.”
Folayang learned lessons from each of his sporting heroes that he carries with him to this day. He hopes to give similar inspiration, and show a roadmap to the next generation watching him now.
“Growing up, it’s important to have your role models, to have those figures you look up to,” he reasoned. “Without Michael Jordan, I wouldn’t know the true meaning of hard work and dedication to my craft. Without Elma Muros, I wouldn’t understand the gift of God-given talent. Without ‘Onyok’ Velasco, I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of representing my country on the international scene. My sports heroes played a big role in my life.”
Though the champion is now grown and himself a hero to others, his predecessors still motivate him and light the way.
“Even as ONE Lightweight World Champion, the highest honor bestowed upon me in the world of mixed martial arts, my heroes continue to inspire me,” he ended. “I have a long way to go to achieve all that I want to do in life, and their influence and reach still very much impacts my life and the way I perform.”
