Quijano: Will Folayang be the Pacquiao of MMA?

Saturday, January 7, 2012

YES, he’s coming. At URCC Cebu 7 this Friday, we shall witness Edward Folayang in action, the most-feared Pinoy MMA fighter today.

He’s built like Superman and has tree trunks for legs. He stands 5’9,” weighs 161 pounds and is currently the URCC welterweight champion.

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He has a 10-1 record and Five of those wins were via the short route, one by submission and four by decision.

GOLD. A Wushu gold medalist in the recent 26th Southeast Asian games, Foloyang knocked out Laotian Udon Khanxay with a right turning sidekick that caught his rival in the mid-section in the second round of the finals. The blow was so devastating, that the Laotian corner threw in the towel and a medic was immediately called.

WADSON TEIXEIRA. In the opposite corner to test his mettle will be Brazilian Wadson Teixeira, a three-time Brazilian Muay Thai Champion with a fearsome Muay Thai record of 19 wins and only one loss.

He has an MMA record of 3-2 and is coming off a submission win over Guina Guina in Itabuna, Brazil.

He carries the ring epithet “Knockout” and currently trains with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

MY TAKE. Folayang is a freakish mix of power, grace and speed and probably represents the apex of physical conditioning for Pinoy MMA fighters today. But he is not without his weaknesses. His sole loss came via knockout in just eight seconds of the first round against Guamanian Jon Tuck. Edward blames the loss on jet lag and ill-preparation, but defeat shows he can be chinny and vulnerable when careless.

His ground game is shaky as he prefers to finish off opponents using the patented ground-and-pound technique and so the Brazilian will have the edge on the mat.

That being said, Folayang’s ferocity during fights remains undiminished. I see Folayang stopping a bloodied but game Teixeira in the second round.

See you at the fight!

BEST KNOCKOUTS. Speaking of MMA, let’s look back at some of the best knockouts for 2011.

Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck. UFC Legend and Hall of Famer Hughes was coming off a loss to fellow legend BJ Penn and needed a huge win over the cocky Koscheck. However, it was not meant to be.

Though he had some success early, the faster Koscheck landed some uppercuts then dropped Hughes with a right. A follow-up barrage knocked the lights out of “The Most Dominant Champion in MMA history”

Chris Leben vs. Wanderlei Silva. In a much anticipated caveman type slugfest, Leben made short work of “The Axe Murderer”, finishing him off in just 26 seconds with several sick-looking uppercuts.

Silva started out strong--landing several hard shots, but the difference was the superior chin of the red-haired “Crippler.”

Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne. Here’s an instance when being nearly 7 feet tall doesn’t do you any good. “Skycraper” Struve, one of my favorite heavyweight fighters, was having mild success with the more compact Browne, but around the 4:11 mark of the first round, he got caught with a Superman punch just as he seemed to be leaning in, and got knocked out cold. The stoppage earned KO of the night honors.

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort. The reigning pound-for-pound king was widely pilloried for escaping with a triangle armbar over the relentless Chael Sonnen in his previous fight but he bounced back big time with a finishing move that is rarely seen in MMA.

At around the 3:20 mark of the first round, “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort seemed to be anticipating a Silva leg kick to land somewhere low, when the “Spider” used his leverage to whiplash the kick to his unsuspecting and unguarded chin.

Belfort fell down like humpty dumpty and they couldn’t put him together again.

HE SAID IT. “We are pleased the judge granted postponement of Floyd’s surrender date so he can fulfill his commitment to Las Vegas to deliver his promised megafight and the economic benefit it provides to the community”—Leonard Ellerbe, manager of Floyd Mayweather Jr. (sports.yahoo.com)

LAST ROUNDS. Are on Edwin Tero who recently celebrated his birthday and my UP roommate Engr. Rey Cervera of Holcim who is in town to run another blazing 21K today. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)