Three Filipino fighters have been added to an already stacked lineup during the return trip of ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) with their “Rise of Heroes” card, set for a May 2 date at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Eduard “Landslide” Folayang looks to follow up on his recent win against Dutch shooto fighter Vincent Latoel last December when he enters the cage against Koetsu “No Face” Boku in the co-featured bout of the evening, while flyweight Rey Docyogen and women’s atomweight fighter Jujeath Nagaowa both seek their first win inside the ONE FC ring.
Folayang, the 29-year old Universal Reality Combat Championship veteran, holding a 13-4 record with five knockouts and two submissions, said that he expects to win the bout, whether the match ends in an early stoppage or via judge’s decision.
“Magaling siya sa striking. Ineexpect ko siya na marami siyang magiging adjustment pagdating sa aming laban. Mas pinaghahandaan ko ang mga areas kung saan doon niya ako kukunin, at tsaka tinitingnan ko rin yung mga butas kung saan ko siya tatalunin,” Folayang said of his Japanese opponent Boku, who holds a 21-9-2 record with eight KOs and one submission, after impressing the media on hand with his quick hands and powerful punching during the open workout held at the Ultimate Fitness gym in Pasig City on Wednesday.
The 36-year old former lightweight title holder Boku, who suffered four out of nine setbacks via submission and has never been knocked out in his MMA career, comes off a sensational knockout win over Malaysian-based French fighter Arnauld Lepont.
On the other hand, Rey Docyogen (10-2, 4 KOs, 4 submissions) aims to make the third time a charm, when he faces Guam native ex-Pacific Xtreme Combat veteran Josh Alvarez (12-6, 2 KOs, 9 submissions).
The 31-year old MMA veteran out of Team Lakay suffered his first string of losses in his career in ONE FC bouts last year against Japanese opponents Shinichi Kojima (via guillotine choke submission in the second round) in Februrary and Yasuhiro Urushitani (via split decision) in May. He garnered all of his 10 career wins in straight wins during his URCC stint.
Meanwhile, Jujeath Nagaowa will make her long-awaited MMA debut against Indian Jeet Toshi (2-1, one submission). The 26-year old fighter from Benguet province was a late scratch from the Moment Of Truth card also held in the country after a medical suspension derailed her plans of making her first appearance in the cage.
The addition of the three matches beefs up the initial fight card, which includes celebrity MMA trainer Eugene Toquero going up against up-and-coming Malaysian talent Gianni Subba.
Fullcourtfresh.com‘s veteran ace lensman Martin San Diego caught up with Filipino fighters Eugene Toquero, Jujeath Nagaowa, and Edward Folayang during the open workout held for the local media on Wednesday.
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