Folayang aims to continue streak, eyes title shot

MANILA, Philippines – Eduard Folayang is eyeing another big win at home to get closer to a dream title match.

Folayang will take on the streaking Timofey Nastyukhin on Friday in the One FC: Warrior's Way at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Team Lakay fighter is on a two-fight win streak, beating Dutch kick boxer Vincent Latoel and former ONE FC Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku.

Another impressive win against the Russian lightweight, who holds a 7-1 win-loss record, might give Folayang a shot at ONE FC lightweight champion Shinya Aoki.

"May confidence naman ako na mananalo ako," Folayang told Philstar.com in a phone interview. "Pero kailangan ko pa rin mag-ingat."

He is facing an aggressive mixed martial artist who has won all seven of his bouts by first-round finishes. Nastyukhin has developed a reputation as a deadly finisher and will look to continue his string of finishes in his One FC debut against Folayang.

"Magaling po siyang striker. Either KO or submission, he's a complete fighter," Folayang said of his Russian opponent.

For this match, Folayang went down from Baguio to Manila to train under former national judoka John Baylon, who has won nine Southeast Asian Games gold medals, and Stephen Campos.

Folayang will be one of the three Team Lakay fighters who will banner the Phl on Friday along with Filipino-American MMA star Brandon Vera, who will make his ONE FC debut, and former boxing champion Ana Julaton.

The addition of Vera to Asia's largest MMA organization has also boosted the Pinoy fighters' confidence.

"Dagdag motivation sa amin yung pagdating ni Brandon Vera. Napapanood mo lang dati sa UFC, ngayon makakasama mo ng lumaban para sa bayan," Folayang said.