 |
| Eduard Folayang will face Eddie Alvarez in a showdown between future MMA legends at the MOA Arena. Rick Dela Cruz (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—A blockbuster clash between Eddie Alvarez and Eduard Folayang will be a main highlight of One: Dawn of Heroes on Aug. 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
While the showdown between the former multiple-time world champions is scheduled as the co-main event of the fight card, fireworks are expected in this clash between seasoned veterans in the lightweight division, especially that both pugilists look to bounce back mightily from tough losses.
Alvarez was stunned in his One Championship after losing to Timofey Nastyukhin in the quarterfinals of the One Lightweight Grand Prix.
Folayang, on the other hand, lost his One lightweight title to the same guy where he first took the title from, Shinya Aoki.
Lowen Tynanes was supposed to face Nastyukhin in the semifinals of the grand prix, but an injury forced Tynanes to beg off and instead, Nastyukhin will take on Honorio Banario.
Nastyukhin, who already defeated Folayang before, looks to add Banario to the growing list of his prolific victims, but the Russian will have to do it in front of an expected raucous crowd cheering for Banario and even Folayang.
Banario and Folayang's Team Lakay comrade, Danny Kingad, will also see action as he battles Kairat Akhmetov in the semifinals of the One Flyweight Grand Prix.
In fact, both semifinal matches will take place at One: Dawn of Heroes as the other pairing, the bout between Demetrious Johnson and Tatsumitsu Wada, will also happen in the said card, essentially making it a star-studded fight card.
Filipino-Australian fighter Reece McLaren, on the other hand, will face Yuya Wakamatsu in another scheduled fight.
The headliner will feature Jonathan Haggerty and Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the One Muay Thai flyweight title.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
.JPG)
.jpg)
