Eduard Folayang Needs to Defeat Unbeaten Russian to Remain Relevant in Lightweight Title Mix

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is nearly a year removed from last having the world title around his waist, but the dream of being once again recognized as the best in the world lingers. And it’s a dream that Folayang says he will continue to chase for as long as necessary.

Following a tremendous all-around performance against Kharun “Predator” Atlangeriev last May, Folayang is in a tremendous position to put together a solid little win streak.

If he emerges victorious in his next outing, Folayang could very well strengthen his case for another shot at the lightweight belt.

“I felt good in my last bout, honestly. Although, of course, I always feel like I could have done just a little better,” said Folayang.

“I am always looking at how I can get better in every aspect. I feel like my wrestling and my grappling has reached a new level over the past few months. There’s a lot of room to improve, but little by little, I’ll get to where I need to be.

“Lightweight is one of the deepest divisions in the organization, and there are so many great guys all wanting to get to the top. I have to keep winning so I can stay in the mix.”

The 34-year-old Baguio City native and Philippine martial arts legend is set to return to action against undefeated ONE Championship newcomer Aziz Pahrudinov of Russia this 27 July at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, set for the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Pahrudinov, a Sambo World Champion and a native of Dagestan, will be Folayang’s third Russian adversary to date. The Filipino also went up against the hard-hitting Timofey Nastyukhin in 2014, suffering a tough knockout loss that ignited a string of victories that led him to the title.

“He (Pahrudinov) is another tough Russian opponent, with the typical Russian style -- aggressive and calculated,” said Folayang.

“He has great wrestling and solid striking -- excellent all-around skills. It’s hard to face these kinds of fighters because you have to be on your toes the entire bout. Get too close, and there’s the threat of the takedown. I will be prepared to face this style once again.”

The ONE Championship lightweight title picture is a crowded one, with many top contenders vying for pole position on who gets to challenge for the title next.

Reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen is already booked to face Folayang’s teammate Kevin Belingon in the main event for the ONE Interim Bantamweight World Championship, so it could be a while before the Australian is able to make a defense. Still, Folayang feels he needs to make a statement against Pahrudniov in order to stay at the top of the pack.

“I have to beat whoever is in front of me. That is the priority. Right now, it’s Pahrudinov,” said Folayang.

“This is going to be a good, exciting fight and I am excited. I will do my best to keep every advantage and win. He doesn’t have many weaknesses, but I would like to test his striking. Let’s see if he can keep up with me on the feet.”

Team Lakay has a handful of big matches scheduled at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, and as such, the group are deep in preparations for their respective bouts. For Folayang, being able to train alongside his teammate Belingon and help him prepare for a former adversary in Nguyen, is an honor he holds to high regard.

“Kevin [Belingon] and I have been training together since our professional debuts back in the Philippines. We have a long history together as teammates, and it makes me happy to see him at this level,” said Folayang.

“Competing on the same card, it is both an honor and a privilege. It’s a good test for Kevin and I know he can get the win. Martin is an intelligent martial artist however, so it will all come down to who wants it more. Whoever imposes his will is going to walk out of the arena with that belt.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Etihad Airways Innovates Upgrade Programme to a Dynamic Live Auction

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Etihad Airways has enhanced its upgrade offering to a dynamic live auction which will make it easier for customers to secure a premium seat in a higher cabin class.

Customers will be able to take part in a bidding system where real-time notifications of their bid will be displayed on their screen, allowing two or more individual bids at the same time. Regular email and SMS updates will also be sent to notify them if they have been outbid.

Jamal Al Awadhi, Etihad Airways Head of Guest Experience Commercial, said: “A first in the region, this dynamic live auction will give guests the chance to select a premium offering at a price they are willing to pay by putting them in control of the experience.

“This new gamification layer will also add a fun element to travel before the journey begins, as passengers compete with each other. Our mobile responsive website makes it even easier for guests to bid on the go.”

Customers will receive an email invitation to bid for a one-cabin upgrade seven days prior to their flight or they can visit etihad.com to join directly.

The auction will take place from 24 to six hours before their flight’s departure. Once the auction closes, the successful winner will be notified immediately.

Bidding guests are encouraged to still check-in online up to 48 hours prior to departure as the optimised system will still process their upgrade. If an upgrade offer is accepted, a new boarding pass will automatically be available on the Etihad Airways Mobile App or one will be provided at check-in.

Future enhancements will enable Etihad Guest members to use their miles to bid for an upgrade.

Etihad Airways has been offering guests bidding upgrades since 2012. It is particularly popular on routes operated by the airline’s Airbus A380s from Abu Dhabi to New York, London, Paris and Sydney.

ONE Championship Event in Manila a Treat for Fans of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a sport that has grown in popularity over the past decade, made so by the rise of mixed martial arts in which BJJ is a major component. Filipino fans of the grappling sport are in for a treat this July 27th, when ONE Championship hosts ONE: REIGN OF KINGS at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, featuring three legendary figures in the sport of BJJ.

The biggest name on the card is 51-year-old legend Renzo Gracie (13-7-1) of the famed Gracie fighting family. The Brazilian is a former 2-time ADCC World Champion and a pioneer of mixed martial arts, having faced legends of equal stature since the early 90’s.

Gracie will face Japanese veteran, 43-year-old Yuki “Sora” Kondo (60-34-9) in what is being billed as the final farewell fight for both fighters.

Being from the first family of martial arts, it should come as no surprise that the sixth-degree BJJ black belt is considered a living legend.

Gracie faced an impressive list of fellow legends and mixed martial arts pioneers throughout his time, experiencing great success. Along the way, he has also produced and trained many world champions in both BJJ and mixed martial arts, to leave an immortal legacy.

Also on the card is former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki (40-8, 1NC) who takes on rising Thai superstar Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai (9-2).

Aoki is widely considered one of the greatest pure grapplers in all of mixed martial arts. He sports a sensational number of 25 submissions out of 40 total victories. An iconic figure, Aoki is best known for his ground game, which had already won him titles at WAMMA, DREAM, and Shooto before his ONE career exploded.

He has defeated some of the biggest names in the world, including Tatsuya Kawajiri, Caol Uno, and Eddie Alvarez. Needless to say, once Aoki has opponents on the mat or grabs a hold of an opponent’s limbs, it is extremely difficult to escape and survival is highly unlikely.

In addition, submission grappling superstar Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon (1-0) is set to make his return to the ONE Championship cage, following a successful mixed martial arts debut last March. Tonon will be taking on Singapore’s Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju (4-2) in a lightweight contest.

Tonon is a multiple-time No Gi BJJ World Champion known for his unparalleled technical expertise of the grappling arts. He began wrestling when he was just 14 years old, and eventually took up BJJ shortly after under world-renowned trainer Tom DeBlass. He won his first BJJ world title in 2008 at the age of 16.

Throughout his grappling career, Tonon was recognized as one of the top competitors in the world at every belt level. He earned his black belt in 2013, and continues to participate in the biggest grappling competitions today most notably the Eddie Bravo Invitational, among others.

The three BJJ superstars will all see action at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, so fans can expect a very high-level and very technical feast for the senses in Manila when ONE Championship hits town.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. ​