MMA: Bad start for Team Lakay in ONE FC: Rise to Power as Eustaquio and Folayang fall

ONE FC: Rise to Power started in the worst way possible for Team Lakay, Friday, at the MOA Arena, as Geje Eustaquio and Eduard Folayang both lost via unanimous decision.

USA's Andrew Leone scored a unanimous decision victory over Eustaquio, while Iran's Kamal Shalorus defeated Folayang also via unanimous decision.

Leone and Shalorus both used their superior wrestling skills to negate Team Lakay's advantage in striking.

The American fighter who trains as part of Thailand's Phuket Top Team knew that his Filipino opponent was not as well-versed when it came to the ground game, and took advantage of this fact, getting multiple takedowns against an opponent who'd rather fight on his feet.

Leone also took Eustaquio's back multiple times and made sure he maintained a dominant position with a body triangle.

Early on, Leone had Eustaquio in trouble as he took the Team Lakay representative down and proceeded to take his back. Leone tried multiple times to sink in a rear naked choke but Eustaquio was able to squeeze out of it.

Eustaquio tried to get some punches in, hitting Leone's face with no-look strikes.

The same thing happened in the second round, but this time, Leone sunk in a deep rear naked choke. For a moment, it appeared that Eustaquio was ready to tap. However, the Filipino fighter was able to break the hold and even transitioned to guard position.

Eustaquio then got back to his feet, but his soccer kick attempts failed to hit the target.

The tide turned in the third round as Eustaquio floored Leone with one big punch, but the American scored on another takedown to seal the win.

With the victory, Leone now holds a record of seven wins against two losses, while Eustaquio falls to four wins versus three losses.


The Filipino fight fans in attendance looked to Folayang to score Team Lakay's first victory of the night. However, he also fell short.

Shalorus started the fight trying to exchanges strikes with Folayang, but when he felt that it wasn't woking out for him, he used his superior wrestling skill to take his opponent down.

Folayang made it back to his feet and even managed to connect with a couple of leg kicks and a huge spinning back fist. However, the Filipino got careless with a wide kick, which Shalorus turned into another takedown.

In the second round, Folayang got his strikes rolling but he got careless again with another kick. Shalorus took full advantage by taking Folayang down anew, going for a mounted arm triangle, but Folayang powered through it as the second round ended.

Folayang came into the third round knowing that he could only win via knockout or submission.  As Shalorus went for another takedown, Folayang saw his shot and attempted a guillotine choke. Shalorus however easily escaped it.

As the seconds dwindled away, Folayang tied his best to put together a combination of strikes to finish the fight, but Shalorus caught one of his kicks for yet another takedown.

"Eduard is a warrior. I knew he is a good striker that's why I used my wrestling," Shalorus said after the fight.

Shalorus now holds a record of eight wins, three losses, and two draws, while Folayang slides down to 12 wins and four losses. - AMD, GMA News