Eduard Folayang to face Martin Nguyen in blockbuster mega-fight at ONE Championship's 'Legends of the World'

Fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) can expect another blockbuster evening of high-octane action at ONE Championship's 'Legends of the World' set to take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manilla, the Philippines, on Nov 10.

In the main event, reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang defends his title against ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen in a cross-division showdown.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated about the highly-anticipated bout:

“ONE Championship continues to push the boundaries of sports and entertainment with each event, and our next show in Manila is going to be absolutely phenomenal.

"Two world champions in their respective weight classes are set to go head-to-head in a cross-divisional showdown that will be talked about the world over. Newly minted ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen will take on reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang in a bout that is sure to produce fireworks.”

33-year-old Folayang of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City, is one of the Philippines’ most experienced martial artists. After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, Folayang has amassed an impressive 18-5 professional record.

The MMA veteran is currently riding a four-bout winning streak against high-profile opponents, including an emphatic technical knockout victory over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship in 2016. 

Showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal, Folayang thoroughly defeated top challenger Ev Ting in his first title defence last April. 

He holds his next opponent Martin Nguyen in high regard, but expressed that he is ready to impress in front of a home crowd. He said:

“As a martial artist, I am constantly in search of the biggest challenges, the biggest tests of my skills. As champion, I welcome any and all challengers. Martin [Nguyen] is one of the best in the world and it is an honor to share the ONE Championship cage with him. This is a bout for the fans, and I can’t wait to perform in front of my hometown crowd in Manila once again. I have complete respect for my opponent’s skills and together with my brothers at Team Lakay, my coach Mark Sangiao, I’m preparing to showcase the best version of Eduard Folayang on 10 November.”

Nguyen of Sydney, Australia, is a highly-skilled finisher and one of the most talented featherweights in martial arts. 

In his most recent bout, Nguyen stepped into the ONE Championship cage last August, scoring the biggest victory of his career when he stopped former undefeated featherweight champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in Macao to capture the ONE Featherweight World Championship. 

Sporting a 9-1 professional record, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to compete at the highest level of competition. 

The 28-year-old also paid homage to Folayang's conquests in the MMA scene ahead of the monumental clash. Like his counterpart from The Philippines, Nguyen will also be looking for nothing less than a victory at 'Legends of the World'.

“New Years’ will be coming early this year, because in this fight there will definitely be fireworks. I'm out not only to make a statement, but to go down in history as the best to ever compete under the ONE Championship banner.

"I have the utmost respect for the lightweight champion, and will definitely not take his skills for granted. But this is going to be a dogfight. It's the first time two champions in different divisions go head-to-head in ONE, and I am excited to give the performance of a lifetime. The real winner of this bout will be the fans at the Mall of Asia Arena," said Nguyen.