Eduard Folayang came very close to beating Eddie Alvarez and it is one the Filipino would like to run back. He dropped the former UFC lightweight champion but got caught in a submission just when he seemed on the verge of finishing the fight.
Folayang must have had a few regrets after that fight. He was clearly getting the better of Alvarez on the feet and took an unnecessary risk by trying to finish him with ground and pound.
It will go down as a submission win for Alvarez but Folayang knows the outcome could have been very different if he hadn’t made that tactical mistake,
“It wasn’t the outcome that I wanted. We all know that we all make mistakes in life. Even a small error could lead to disaster. That’s why I’m willing that Alvarez vs. Folayang II does happen,” he said.
Eddie Alvarez overcomes Eduard Folayang’s fearsome wushu striking to score a submission victory and a spot in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix finals! @Ealvarezfight #WeAreONE #DawnOfHeroes #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/GsC9RNqL9F
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 2, 2019
Legendary status
Folayang hasn’t won an MMA fight since 2019 but then neither has Alvarez. The Filipino is coming off a victory, he beat John Wayne Parr in a Muay Thai fight at ONE: ‘X’ earlier this year.
Neither man is close to title contention or even a spot in the top five. But both have legendary status and Folayang hopes it is is a fight which could happen sooner rather than later,
“Of course, that’s a great opportunity for me, it’s a great fight if that happens. It would be awesome if Alvarez vs. Folayang II does happen especially on my part. I really feel that I could’ve done something more in our previous fight.”
Eduard Folayang gives it a twirl! 🌀#ONEX #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/VFcx5bQM0i
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 30, 2022
Short notice
The ONE 161 card will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime. It is going to feature a flyweight title fight and a heavyweight title fight with ONE Championship rolling out some of its biggest stars.
Demetrious Johnson is going to challenge for the flyweight title on that card. It would make sense for ONE Championship to use their other former UFC champion.
But the show is less than two months away and Folayang says he will need plenty of notice if a rematch with Alvarez is offered,
“I feel that I have to drastically improve my striking and undergo an intense training camp if that fight with Eddie eventually happens.”
