Folayang more determined to win due to Grand Prix announcement

MANILA - Eduard Folayang was even more determined to have his hand raised in victory after it was officially announced that his upcoming showdown with Eddie Alvarez landed him in the semifinals of the ONE lightweight world grand prix.

Former ONE featherweight world champion Honorio Banario and Timofey Nastyukhin were originally slated for the bracket, but the latter had to withdraw from the tournament after he suffered a serious knee injury in training.

The former ONE lightweight world champion from Baguio City said the stakes were much higher now after the recent development.

He saw the opportunity as his first step back to world title contention, and planned to take full advantage of the opportunity when he stood across the cage against the former UFC and Bellator lightweight world champion Alvarez at "ONE: Dawn of Heroes" on August 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

"I am excited that the fight is now in the semifinals of the grand prix. But of course, none of that would matter if I lose the fight," said Folayang.

"My mindset is to go there, win the fight and beat one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. That's what I'm aiming for, that's my goal," he added.

"I wasn't there when the grand prix first started. I am very happy for the opportunity, but it is more important that I win the fight."

Furthermore, Folayang, touted as the face of Philippine mixed martial arts, now considered the bout as the most important in his career after it landed in the prestigious tourney.

"But like I said, what's important is I win the fight and take that first step which makes this really important."

Never the type to predict how his match would end, Folayang merely guaranteed fireworks at the Mall of Asia Arena as he saw the bout as a battle between the finest strikers the East and West had to offer.

"This will be an explosive fight," he promised.

"All I can promise is I will give a good fight because I am working so hard for this in training. For sure I want to deliver one of the best performances in my lifetime." — DVM, GMA News