April 13 ------ Team Lakay legend Eduard Folayang has now found a replacement opponent for ONE on TNT IV this April 29, as he is now set to face the ever-dangerous veteran Shinya Aoki for the third time in his decorated career. As first reported by ESPN, Aoki (46-9) was left without an opponent like Folayang after his original foe Sage Northcutt was dropped from the card due to a positive COVID-19 test. Folayang (22-10) was initially set to face 45-year-old Yoshihiro Akiyama on the same card, but the Japanese veteran voluntarily dropped out due to an injury he suffered in training camp.
This set the stage for an impromptu match between the two rivals in a series currently tied at one win apiece. Folayang won the ONE Lightweight World Championship in their first match in November 2016 after a Round 3 stoppage due to punches. However, Aoki got the belt back in a March 2019 rematch with a shocking first-round win via rear naked choke.
This started a cold streak for the 36-year-old Folayang, as he has now lost 4 of his last 5 bouts. On the other hand, the 37-year-old Aoki is on the rise once again with 3 straight wins, 2 coming by way of submission. Folayang is now the only Team Lakay fighter left on the ONE on TNT cards throughout April, as rising stars Lito Adiwang and Stephen Loman have since been dropped due to positive COVID-19 tests.
Source: rappler.com