FILIPINO MMA star Eduard Folayang’s slump continues after losing to Chinese veteran Zhang Lipeng by unanimous decision in the main event of ONE Championship – “Battleground II” on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.
Folayang targeted Zhang’s legs and was very effective with his strategy in the early moments of the opening round. However, Zhang took Folayang down and unleashed some ground-and-pound. He took Folayang’s back but was unable to submit him with a rear-naked choke attempt.
Like the first round, Folayang had success with his leg kicks early in the second round but Zhang took him to the ground again to disrupt his rhythm. Folayang, however, did a better job, broke Zhang’s grip and stood up right away. Zhang had more success in striking and landed a front kick to Folayang’s jaw.
In the third round, Folayang continued to land his leg kicks and did a better job in defending Zhang’s takedown. But Zhang had a huge slam near the end of the round that may have clinched him the win in a very close fight with Folayang.
Folayang dropped his fourth straight fight and is now 22-12, while Zhang had a successful ONE debut and improved to 31-11-2.
Folayang is now at a crossroads in his career, if he wants to continue or hang it up at 37 years old. But he immediately made it clear that he wants to continue despite the disappointing defeat.
“It was not the performance I wanted to show. It’s been tough but I know the best is reserved for those who continue to persevere and dream,” said Folayang, the former ONE lightweight champion. (EKA)