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ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong believes Filipino MMA fighter Eduard “Landslide” Folayang still has a lot left in the tank amid talks about the latter’s imminent retirement.
Speaking to reporters recently, the sports executive believes that the 36-year-old Folayang has yet to wash himself and still has a lot to offer within the circle.
Team Lakay (22-9) legend will face Australian Antonio Caruso (7-1), on the ONE: Inside the Matrix undercard at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 30 (live on One Sports and One Sports + ).
“For me, when I look at Eduard and talk to him, I see that he is hungrier than ever, he is always improving his skill set, so I think many times in recent years Eduard Folayang was dismissed by some of the haters. But the truth is that he is still very fresh, very strong and very athletic and very intelligent, “Sityodtong said.
“I don’t think this is Eduard’s last fight and of course it will depend on his performance against the very tough Antonio Caruso. It will be a very fun fight,” he added.
Folayang agreed with the CEO’s assessment and says he can bounce back from recent setbacks for a shot at the ONE World Lightweight belt once again.
“We have a saying in the Philippines that says ‘only carabaos get old.’ So, you know, I think it’s like a fish swimming in water. If you take the fish out, it will die. I’m already into this sport and I’m enjoying it. I think that this is one of the things that I experienced, being in the sport of MMA, trying really hard even at this age. I think I’m still fresh, “the three explained. time champion.
For Caruso, who suffered his first loss to Pieter Buist in his last contest, he is hell-bent on forcing a changing of the guard when they meet.
“I want to achieve everything that Eduard has achieved. He is a legend in this division, he is a legend of this sport and he is a legend of his country. That is exactly what I want to do. To do that you have to beat a legend and me I come on the 30th to become a legend like him and make way for a new challenger in the lightweight division, “said Caruso.
“What I bring to the table that [Folayang] has not seen before is me. He’s never fought me, he’s never faced me, he’s never fought a person like me before. Yes, he has seen boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, jiu-jitsu, but he has never faced me, Antonio el Espartano, “continued the Brazilian jiujiteiro.
The fight is just one component of a heavily stacked card in Friday’s event. UNO: Inside the Matrix also includes four world title matches and an atomweight clash.
Some 250 “superfans” are also expected to watch the event, which Folayang likened to a training session. Sports promotion will institute strict protocols, and could possibly herald more successful sporting and non-sporting events in the near future.
“Basically, we test them before they leave their respective countries. When they land, we test them right away and we have a test that gives results quickly, within 12 hours. And then we test them throughout the week,” Sityodtong explained. .
“But most importantly, we secure every floor of the hotel, every room, and the athletes are always accompanied. A bubble has been created from the airport to the hotel and the venue. The athletes are obviously isolated and there are multiple test points. .. “
With the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging the Philippines, Sityodtong maintained that the promotion does not currently plan to hold a closed-door event in the country.
“When we return to the Philippines, we will make sure that it is a spectacular spectacle and that the fans can enter the stadium. It will be a real great spectacle,” Sityodtong said.
