Perseverance keeps Folayang going
Team Lakay veteran Eduard Folayang is keeping himself motivated in his journey back to the top of the lightweight rankings in ONE Championship.
The two-time lightweight champion, who is facing Chinese foe Zhang Lipeng in the main event of ONE: Battleground II at press time, said perseverance is key to how he keeps going despite losing five of his last six bouts in the Circle.
"What keeps me going is I believe I didn't reach my destination yet. I'm still on the journey so there's a lot of potential I need to unleash and that keeps me going," said the 36-year-old Folayang in a recent media availability.
Asked how many more years he thinks he has left in the game, the Team Lakay stalwart gave himself two or three more.
"Of course we cannot predict the things that will come but as for me, I have a goal and until I didn't reach that yet and I can still go then I will continue."
Folayang recently lost to rival Shinya Aoki in their trilogy after the Japanese grappler submitted the Igorot warrior via slick armbar in the first round in ONE on TNT IV.
Folayang's last win came from a Tsogookhuu Amarsanaa of Mongolia in between losses against Aoki, Eddie
Alvarez, Pieter Buist, and Tony Caruso.
Zhang, 31, for his part, looks to impress in his promotional debut against a fellow seasoned fighter.
The Chinese veteran rides on a two-match win streak but was also in a two-year hiatus since September 2019 in China's Kunlun Fight.
He improved to a 30-11-2 record with the latest coming from a submission win against Mohammad Naeemi of Iran.