Eduard Folayang

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, 35, of the Philippines will face Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, 35, of the United States at “ONE: Dawn of Heroes.” They will compete in a semi-final bout of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

ONE Championship will hold “ONE: Dawn of Heroes” at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines on August 2, 2019. Folayang is one of the five Filipino mixed martial artists representing Team Lakay on the card.

Folayang held the ONE Lightweight World Championship title first from 2016 to 2017 then in 2018. Alvarez held the Bellator Lightweight World Championship belt in 2009 and in 2013 and the UFC Lightweight Championship belt in 2016.

“I think Eddie is a good martial artist,” Folayang said of his “ONE: Dawn of Heroes” opponent. “You will not become a world champion if you don’t have a good approach to being a martial artist. I believe wrestling and boxing are his strengths.”

“But if you’ll look at Eddie’s track record, you will see that almost all his defeats are from high-level strikers,” Folayang continued. “That is his weakness. It’s hard but I am pushing myself to prepare.”

Training out of Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, Folayang remains optimistic of his chances against Alvarez. The Filipino mixed martial arts superstar is looking to beat his American opponent by way of knockout.

“A knockout and submission will always be there if you are in the proper position,” the Team Lakay fighter pointed out. “That is a given. I think it will end in a knockout.”

Fortunately for Folayang, he will not be facing Alvarez alone as he will have the entire crowd behind him in Manila. Also, his Team Lakay teammates Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, 35, Honorio Banario, Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, 30, and Danny “The King” Kingad, 23, are also on the card.

“Having this bout here in the Philippines gives me confidence,” Folayang concluded. “Those are what give me the confidence to face him in this bout, my preparation and the crowd.”

Meanwhile, here is a clip featuring Folayang in an open workout at the Victory Sports Tower in Quezon City, Metro Manila in 2018: