By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

GROWING up Eduard Folayang never thought that he would build a successful career doing martial arts, and to this day he is just amazed at how things have turned out for him in the path he has chosen.

Doing wushu and mixed martial arts for most of his life, Mr. Folayang, 35, has won a lot in competitions both here and abroad, changing his life for the better.

“I didn’t imagine this happening. It seems like almost everything worked well and fell in the right places. There were failures sure but there were achievements as well and I’m just grateful,” said Mr. Folayang in an interview.

The Baguio native started doing wushu first and represented the country in the early 2000s, winning medals in the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and international wushu tournaments.

In 2007, he started in MMA, quickly establishing himself as a force to reckon with in the sport, eventually becoming a champion in different organizations, including ONE Championship, where he is a two-time world lightweight champion.

Recently, Mr. Folayang added another feather in his cap as he was named to the list of greatest Filipino athletes in the recently released Philippines Yearbook 2020: The 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes.

The authors of the book said the Filipino fighter is being recognized not only for his achievements in the sport of MMA but also for the kind of impact he has had in helping grow the sport and for MMA be better appreciated in the country.

Mr. Folayang said it is a recognition that he is taking with much honor and pride not only for himself but for the entire MMA community in the country for it is an affirmation as well of how the sport has carved a niche for itself in the overall scheme of things.

“This is just unbelievable. Never did I think I will be included in this list of the 50 greatest Filipino athletes. When I started doing MMA I just wanted to take on a new challenge and improve myself. I just worked hard and I’m happy to be in the list. Hopefully others will be inspired by my story, to do their best each time in whatever they do,” Mr. Folayang said.

“I’m happy to represent the sport of MMA in the country. Our journey has not been perfect but we have achieved things throughout the years and for it to be recognized in such a way is a wonderful feeling,” he added.

In the list of the greatest Filipino athletes, Mr. Folayang joins the list of legends in Philippine basketball, boxing, bowling, swimming, and football, among others.

While he has done and won practically everything in MMA, Mr. Folayang said he is not done with the sport, underscoring that there are still narratives to be told and goals to achieve.

He is set to make his ONE return later this week at “ONE: Fire & Fury” at the Mall of Asia Arena, taking on Pieter Buist of the Netherlands in a lightweight clash.

It is a fight that he is viewing with much significance, looking to use as a jump-off point to make another push at a title shot in the division.

“This is an important match and I want to give a good performance. My motivation is to be champion once again. The division is deeper now but it will be a wonderful narrative and huge accomplishment if I become champion again,” Mr. Folayang said.

ONE: Fire & Fury is set for Jan. 31.

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