Eduard Folayang

Eduard Ayangwa Folayang (born November 22, 1983) is a Filipino mixed martial artist and wushu practitioner who fights in ONE Championship, where he is a two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion.

He also competed for Universal Reality Combat Championship, where he is a former URCC Welterweight Champion.

Folayang was a member of Team Lakay Wushu in Baguio from 2007 until he left the gym this March 10, 2023, which has produced numerous Filipino champions in URCC and ONE Championship.

Folayang was born in Baguio on November 22, 1983.

His parents are natives of Mountain Province.

He endured a very tough childhood with his family living in dire poverty for much of his youth.

Folayang even lost five of his siblings due to a lack of access to healthcare.

Folayang started training wushu and boxing when he was 16 years old under the tutelage of head coach Tony Candelaria, who helped him to improve his skills and discipline.

Folayang graduated from the University of the Cordilleras in 2006, and passed his exam to become a teacher.

He began teaching English and Physical Education, but six months in, decided to quit to pursue his dreams in martial arts.

After surviving his own impoverished childhood, Folayang now uses his status to promote and help other charities, including raising money for education for under-privileged Filipino children.

Folayang is a Christian.

On June 30, 2007, Folayang made his professional debut in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the Philippines.

The Baguio native fought undefeated welterweight champion Allan Co and defeated him by TKO in round 1.

With the win, Folayang became the new title holder.

After 5 wins, Folayang suffered his first defeat at the hands of Guam's Jon Tuck via knockout in just 8 seconds on November 21, 2009.

This was his second bout in the Gorilla Warfare promotion.

The Baguio native made his first Martial Combat debut on June 17, 2010, defeating Slovak fighter Egon Racz via guillotine choke early in the first round.

Folayang entered the Singapore-based promotion Martial Combat in 2010.

On June 17, the multi-titled wushu expert took on Slovakian fighter Egon Racz in the MC – Martial Combat 5 event.

Folayang won the match via guillotine choke early in the first round.

On July 14, 2010, Folayang fought Mongolian Bao She Ri Gu Leng in a lightweight fight, with the latter's Superfight lightweight title at stake; the event was held at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

The Filipino fighter won by unanimous decision after 5 round, to become the new champion.

On October 16, 2010, Folayang fought South African Muay Thai specialist Vuyisile Colossa at Martial Combat 12.

Folayang won a decision after scoring multiple takedowns in the first two rounds even though Colossa dominated the third round.

Folayang has won several international Wushu tournaments, including a gold medal at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games which he won with a spinning back kick KO in the final, a silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, and bronze medals in both the 2005 World Wushu Championship and the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

He was originally scheduled to make his ONE Championship debut against Muay Thai champion-turned MMA fighter Ole Laursen at ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 3, 2011.

Laursen, however, suffered a knee injury in training and was replaced by A Sol Kwon, a South Korean on a six fight winning streak.

Folayang won the fight via unanimous decision.

Despite having a contract with ONE FC, Folayang was allowed to return to the URCC to fight Brazilian Muay Thai champion Wadson Teixeira at URCC Cebu VII: Dominate on January 13, 2012.

He won by submission due to elbows in the first round.

On December 1, 2012, Folayang returned in the promotion facing Lowen Tynanes.

Eduard Folayang loss by a doctor stoppage due to a big cut delivered by Tynanes' elbow.

A rescheduled bout with Ole Laursen took place on March 31, 2012.

In a back-and-forth fight, Folayang lost via a controversial split decision, resulting to the crowd booing Laursen after the decision was announced.

On July 18, 2012, Folayang defeated Felipe Enomoto via unanimous decision at ONE FC: Pride of a Nation in Manila, Philippines.

Right after the fight ONE FC President Victor Cui announced that Folayang will earn a shot for the first ever ONE FC lightweight belt on October at ONE FC: Rise of Kings against Zorobabel Moreira.

Despite the announcement, Folayang had to pull out of the title fight due to URCC commitments.

He was later replaced by former foe Ole Laursen who was again replaced by Kotetsu Boku who eventually became the first ever ONE FC Lightweight Champion.

However, One FC officials mentioned that Folayang will retain his no.1 contender status and should face the eventual winner Boku.