Respect will be the central theme in the super-bout between former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and multi-time Lightweight World Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez.
The pair will clash in one of the featured bouts of ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST when the world’s largest martial arts organization returns to the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila on Saturday, 2 August.
Folayang has described the contest as a dream match, knowing that Alvarez has done a lot in the world of mixed martial arts.
While the Filipino hero has certainly experienced his fair share of big moments in his career, this might be his biggest one yet.
“I still consider him as a legend in this sport,” Folayang said.
“His debut might be far from ideal, but he’s done so much in this sport and that’s why I still look at him as a legend. He has an amazing resume, he’s a former UFC and Bellator World Champion.”
Knowing the caliber of athlete that Alvarez is, Folayang is wasting no time in preparing for this upcoming contest.
He is already thinking about how he can defeat the modern-day American legend.
“The stakes are really high for this one. I have time, and I’ll make sure to come in prepared for Eddie Alvarez,” he explained. “You never know when an opportunity like this will come again for me.”
For Alvarez, he wants nothing but the best from the person who he calls “The Filipino King.”
Speaking to BJ Penn Radio, Alvarez expressed his excitement when talking about the prospect of facing Folayang — who is not only a big star in the Philippines, but also one of the biggest names in ONE Championship, too.
“I’m excited. This match-up, in particular, I feel like this guy is such a hard-nosed, tough fighter. This could be a fight of the year,” Alvarez said.
“This is going to be the ultimate one, the Thrilla’ in Manila. Going to the Philippines, fighting ‘The Filipino King’ in Eduard Folayang, taking another head, taking another skull.”
Knowing the expectations of him, Alvarez is motivated to get the stoppage victory and silence the rowdy local crowd that is expected to support the Baguio City native from bell-to-bell.
“It’s in his hometown, so I’m looking forward to a tough opponent and I’m viewing the fight as one that I absolutely have to finish,” Alvarez shared.
“I am not coming in for a decision. I expect to lose if it goes to a decision. I have every intention to finish.”
This match isn’t only a dream come true for Folayang, but it’s also something that Alvarez has been looking forward to as well.
He wants the best, and now, he is about to get it.
“I never want an easy fight,” the American continued. “My only desire is for the ONE Championship title. This guy’s held it not once, but twice already.”
