Eduard Folayang prepares for ONE Championship return against Shinya Aoki at ONE 172

Former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is fired up for his return to ONE Championship, determined to showcase his best form when he steps back into the Saitama Super Arena on March 23 for a highly anticipated fourth showdown against Shinya Aoki at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.

With Lions Nation MMA thriving, Folayang is motivated by the success of his teammates, particularly Joshua Pacio, who recently unified the ONE Strawweight World Title with a dominant win over Jarred Brooks in February.

“Things have been looking up for us. Joshua just recently unified the World Titles, Kevin [Belingon] also made a good account of himself in his return. As for me, I’m doing my best to catch up on my training because I stayed for about a week in Qatar,” Folayang shared.

“With two weeks left before Japan, I’m in the peak of my training right now. I’m pushing hard to make sure I come in there truly prepared.”

Eduard Folayang is ready to make his return at ONE 172 against Shinya Aoki in Japan.

A new era for Philippine MMA

Folayang’s return comes at a time when Philippine MMA is experiencing a resurgence. Aside from Pacio’s title win, Denice Zamboanga recently secured the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Championship, further solidifying the Philippines’ presence in the global MMA scene.

“That’s what we want to see now. And I’m happy that we’re on the cusp of doing it again,” Folayang said, recalling 2018, when Filipino fighters held five ONE World Titles.

“The fact that we still have two World Champions means that Philippine MMA didn’t stagnate. It continues to evolve, and it continues to thrive.”

With momentum building, Folayang is eager to make his own statement, looking to bring back the dominant form that made him one of Asia’s top lightweight fighters.

A fierce rivalry reignited

Folayang and Aoki have a storied history, with the Filipino icon winning their first encounter in 2016 to claim his first world title. Aoki avenged the loss in 2019, and then in their third bout in 2021, the Japanese legend secured another victory via submission.

Now, Folayang has a chance to even the score and prove that he still belongs among the elite.

“There’s gonna be a ‘Landslide’ in Japan,” he declared. “I’m gonna bring it there, and fans should expect nothing less on March 23.”

With less than three weeks to go, all eyes will be on Folayang’s comeback, as he looks to reignite his career and add another memorable chapter to his rivalry with Shinya Aoki.