Folayang returns to his 'bread and butter' striking in Muay Thai clash vs Parr

MANILA, Philippines — Eduard Folayang is set to return to a familiar style of fighting as his ONE Super Series Muay Thai clash against the retiring John Wayne Parr in ONE X set to unfurl in Singapore on March 26.

After more than a decade of competing in mixed martial arts bouts in the Singapore promotion, Folayang comes back to his Wushu roots against Parr.

Though slightly different as the fight will be fought under Muay Thai rules, Folayang expressed excitement over getting to exploit his prowess in striking.

"Syempre yung feeling [natin], andun yung excitement kasi [striking] naman yung bread and butter natin nung nags-start palang tayo in the Philippine team. Yung talagang strictly on striking yung lahat ng battles natin and for now, it'll be happening again," Folayang said during Team Lakay's media day for ONE X on Saturday.

"Yun nga lang, under Muay Thai rules so meron mga adjustment," he added.

Folayang is a decorated Wushu athlete representing the Philippines. 

In the Southeast Asian Games alone, he has won three gold medals.

He also has a silver and bronze medal in the Asian Games, and a bronze as well in the World Wushu Championships.

Now that he is also a seasoned athlete in mixed martial arts, Folayang says his experience outside of Wushu, especially against athletes whose specialty is Muay Thai, will help him prepare against Parr.

"Sa paglalaro ko bilang isang MMA athlete, marami naman tayong nakatapat or nakalaban na [Muay Thai[ yung naging background... Pinakita nila yung paano yung pagigign Muay Thai athlete so sa akin, andun yung excitement and I'm looking forward na mas maibigay ko pa yung complete focus ko on this fight," he said.

Though Folayang has been in ONE Championship since the beginning of the promotion in 2011, this will be the first time Folayang fights in ONE Super Series Muay Thai.

And though having been on a slump with four straight losses, Folayang thinks this can be an opportunity to further his career even more at 37-years-old.

"I think this is a great door, great opportunity para kung maging maganda yung performance natin then we can be able to think how we will be able to do more in the next seasons," he said.

Both Folayang and Parr will definitely be slugging it out for all the marbles in a fight that has been billed as a "Legend vs Legend" bout as Parr is looking to end his career on a high note and his 100th victory while Folayang is eager to prove that he has much left in the tank and can still compete at his age.