Folayang-Aoki rematch on in One's first Japan event

Eduard Folayang will defend his One lightweight belt against the same guy who he first got it from. Rick Dela Cruz (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Shinya Aoki will get a second chance at the One lightweight title he lost to Eduard Folayang as they will meet again at the former's home country.

Folayang and Aoki will face off in a highly-anticipated in one of the three world title fights scheduled for One's first event in Tokyo, One: A New Era, on March 31 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in the Japanese capital.

The Team Lakay star will make his first title defense of his second reign as the One lightweight champ against the same guy who he first got the belt from, but this time, Aoki has the Japanese crowd with him.

Aoki is not the only Japanese disputing for a world title belt in Tokyo as Ken Hasegawa also looks to take the One middleweight championship from Myanmar's Aung La N Sang.

In a rematch of what many touted as the "greatest bout in One Championship history" last June that was named the Bout of the Year by the Global Martial Arts Awards, N Sang will try to repeat over Hasegawa despite the home arena advantage favoring the latter.

Also, the much-awaited clash between Xiong Jingnan and Angela Lee will finally take place at One: A New Era.

Supposed to take place this year if not for a road accident that hurt Lee, the showdown between the two reigning champions of the One women's division will now take place in Tokyo next March with Xiong's women's strawweight title on the line.

Meanwhile, former Ultimate Fighting Championship stars Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson will make their One Championship debuts at One: A New Era.

Alvarez will take on Timofey Nastyukhin, while Johnson will face Yuya Wakamatsu.

A muaythai clash will also happen in the said fight card as Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex takes on Andy Souwer.

On the other hand, One announced that the One Flyweight World Grand Prix will kick off at One: A New Era with the preliminary bouts to be announced at a later date.

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