Eduard Folayang shrugs off calls for retirement after latest setback

Former ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang shrugged off calls from fight fans for him to retire following his technical knockout loss to Edson Marques this past weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Folayang, 39, was dropped with a right hand by Marques that saw his face bounce on the canvas. Despite the knockdown, Folayang quickly got back to his feet but the referee had already ended the contest at the 2:53 mark of round two.

“People are entitled to their opinion. When people have nothing to do they want you to join them. I love what I am doing, I love this sport and it is me who can tell if I can still do it or not. I will not be derailed about what they say because they are entitled to their opinion,” Folayang said.

Folayang, touted as the face of Philippine mixed martial arts, is no stranger to getting stopped as he had already experienced getting knocked out cold in the past. His latest outing was also his fifth straight defeat having won just one fight in his last eight contests. Folayang, however, says he is not done.

“I know the feeling of getting knocked out. I wanted to have a good outcome but it did not go my way. I want a rematch because I am not satisfied with the result and the stoppage. I have been there. I felt what was like to be knocked out,” Folayang stated.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News