MMA

Folayang vs. Aoki 3 announced for ONE on TNT IV

The highly anticipated matchup between two former ONE lightweight champs Eduard Folayang and Japanese legend Shinya Aoki is set to take place at ONE on TNT IV on April 29 in Singapore.

The 37-year-old from Baguio City’s Team Lakay was originally scheduled to face ex-UFC fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama but the latter had to withdraw due to an injury.

Aoki, meanwhile, was slated to face Sage Northcutt but the American also had to be pulled out of the fight due to lingering COVID-19 symptoms.

The pair first met inside the cage in 2016 when the Filipino won via third-round technical knockout to snatch the ONE lightweight world title.

A rematch took place three years later and it was Aoki’s time to win as he submitted Folayang in the first round with a triangle choke.

Aoki is on a three-bout winning streak since losing the title to Christian Lee in 2019 while Folayang is in a must-win fight after he lost 4 of his last 5 outings. —JMB, GMA News