“Rivals Who Became Friends”: Eduard Folayang Talks About His Bond With Shinya Aoki Ahead of ONE 172

Going in to face the same opponent for the fourth time inside the octagon at ONE 172, Eduard Folayang shared a thought or two about his bond with Shinya Aoki outside the thriving world of UFC action. Apart from the first win in 2016, this bout counts as the fourth encounter of the MMA fighters inside the ring. Even though the UFC world thrives on intense rivalries, Folayang’s recent comments on his bond with his upcoming opponent might make you reconsider the way a determined and humble athlete thinks outside the ring of an aggressive and competitive sport.

“Rivalaries Can Turn Into Friendships’: Eduard Folyang Sheds Light On His Bond With Shinya Aoki

The former two-time ONE Championship holder, Folayang, recently indulged in a conversation with The MMA Superfan's YouTube channel and discussed the showdown he is yet to perform in against Aoki. While speaking, Folayang mentioned how taking on an opponent as a pro fighter is bound to take place inside the squared circle since it is a part of their job as an athlete, but the rivalry does not necessarily have to extend beyond the ring. He proclaimed, "What I can say is that for this fight, it's going to be rivals who became friends. It's a little bit of a reflection of our lives as athletes. We can't avoid these situations. Because sometimes rivalries turn into bad blood. But for me, by God's grace, my rivalries can turn into friendships as long as we stick and stand by our moral principles that God gave us."

Such remarks by the Filipino legend reflect the humbleness of his character despite having the capacity to become extremely ruthless inside the octagon. While this statement stands as an example of the importance of good sportsmanship, Folayang further reflected on how he wants this showdown to be perceived.

‘I Just Want it To Be Memorable For Everyone’: Folayang Talks About His Forthcoming Fight With Aoki

Although this showdown carries utmost importance to cement Folayang’s legacy in the sport if he wins, he only had the nicest things to say when he was asked about the upcoming event. He stated, "I just want it to be memorable for everyone, especially if I even the score to 2-2. But more than that, if we are able to show our best and we are able to entertain everyone watching, because that's our job. That's how I want fans to remember this by."

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As the match takes place on March 23 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan, MMA fans can still buy tickets online to witness the UFC action about to take place.