FILIPINO MMA legend Eduard Folayang suffered another loss to Japanese icon Shinya Aoki via a quick first-round submission in their fourth encounter on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in the undercard of “ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang” card at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The 41-year-old Aoki immediately shot for a double-leg takedown, but Folayang defended well. In the clinch, Folayang landed some effective knees to Aoki’s body, but, out of nowhere, the aging Japanese star transitioned to full guard, grabbed Folayang’s arm, and locked in a tight armbar, forcing Folayang into submission in just 53 seconds of action.
Aoki, who has developed a close bond with Folayang over the years, improved to 49-11 with his 33rd submission victory. The 41-year-old Folayang dropped to 23-14.
Folayang and Aoki first met in the ONE Championship cage back in 2016. Folayang shocked the world by stopping Aoki in the third round to win the ONE lightweight belt.
The rivals met again in 2019, with Aoki reclaiming the lightweight title via a first-round arm-triangle choke. In their third meeting in 2021, Aoki once again displayed his world-class grappling skills and forced Folayang into submission, this time with an armbar in the opening round.
Folayang is considered one of the first stars of MMA in the Philippines. He is one of the longest-tenured fighters in ONE Championship and fought in the organization’s inaugural event in 2011.
After their fourth fight Sunday, Folayang and Aoki both removed their gloves in the cage, a gesture often signifying retirement.
However, neither of them hung up their gloves after the bout, leaving uncertainty about whether they would continue their MMA careers. / EKA