Eduard Folayang is taking his training to the United States.
Folayang, a two-time former ONE Championship lightweight title-holder, recently revealed his departure from the famed Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, marking the end of 16-year training relationship.
He still has not decided where he will train going forward, but plans to visit some American gyms while he weighs up the options – including Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he trained for his title-winning defeat of Amir Khan in 2018.
“I’m going to go there again for some weeks, then probably I’ll go to the ONE event [in Denver on May 5],” Folayang, 38, told the Post. “Then probably I’ll finish my training in California. I’ll jump around some training facilities there.”
Folayang says his decision to Team Lakay was “difficult.”
He is a co-founder of the team, and one of its most influential figures, which meant that he also needed to consider the implications for the young teammates that turned to him for inspiration.
“It’s really hard for me because a lot of those young fighters are looking at me,” he said. “As much as possible I want them to focus on their goals. Sometimes I need to make decisions on my own.”
ONE: Joshua Pacio confirms Team Lakay exit
Folayang was not alone in his decision to leave Team Lakay. The lightweight veteran was followed by former strawweight champ Joshua Pacio, former bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon, and former featherweight champion Honorio Banario.
He advised all three to “consider all the consequences” of their departure from the team, and assures their doing so was “their decision.”
“I have my own reasons, and I know for them, they have their own,” he said.
Despite the exits of Folayang, Pacio, Belingon and Banario, Team Lakay is still home to a number of ONE fighters, including Stephen Loman, who is expected to get the first crack at new bantamweight champion Fabricio Andrade.
Folayang does not plan to return to training at Team Lakay, but is willing to help his former training partners at the gym if they need him.
“I’m open to it, if we’re able to train together again for fight preparation,” he said. “That’s very necessary for us to do.”
Folayang assures he is “fine with everyone” at Team Lakay, including his long-time head coach Mark Sangiao, with whom he “talked a lot” about the decision to leave.
The main reason he left, as he made clear in his initial announcement, is to challenge himself in new training environs.
“I really need to venture on this journey,” he said. “I need to get out of my comfort zone as much as possible so I can see how I can grow in a new environment.”
It is not surprising to see Folayang making big changes. The Filipino veteran has lost his last five MMA fights, having most recently suffered a knockout at the hands of Edson Marques in Manila in December, and at 38, does not have much time left in his career.
“I have very limited time in my fighting career,” he said. “Two or three years – maximum three.”
His hope is that by stepping outside his comfort zone, he will be able achieve his remaining goals.
That includes to returning to lightweight title contention – which he acknowledges is quite ambitious with so many losses in the rear-view mirror.
“They call me the face of Philippines MMA,” he said. “That’s a responsibility I must take seriously as a fighter. I don’t want to be stuck in my comfort zone. I want to be recognised as someone who tries everything to represent the country well.
“Another one of the goals I’m dreaming of is to be back in title contention. Of course it’s very difficult to think of it, especially in my position, but that’s one of the dreams that I have.”
The first priority, however, is training in the US, then getting back into the ONE Circle later in the year.
“[After visiting the US], I’ll come back to The Philippines and keep on improving and probably I’ll be able to ask for a fight,” he said.
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