In the pantheon of Philippine MMA legends, few names carry the weight and reverence of Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. The former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion blazed the trail for Filipino fighters on the global stage, overcoming impossible odds to capture gold and inspire a generation.
Now, the Baguio native watches with immense pride as his Lions Nation MMA teammate and reigning ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio stands on the precipice of making history.
At ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri on November 16 in Tokyo, Japan, Pacio will challenge reigning flyweight champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu for the chance to become the Philippines’ first-ever two-division MMA world champion.
For Folayang, who knows the burden of carrying an entire nation’s hopes, Pacio’s quest represents something profound. The seven-time strawweight champion has already unified his division’s gold, but now he seeks to etch his name in the record books alongside the sport’s most elite competitors.
“I’m really proud and excited for Joshua. Seeing him in this position is inspiring, not just for me but for every Filipino fighter. We’ve walked this journey together for many years, and I know how much hard work and sacrifice he’s put in. To have the chance to make history for the Philippines is something special, and I’m confident he will make our country proud,” Folayang explained.
The magnitude of Pacio’s opportunity cannot be understated. Moving up from strawweight to challenge the flyweight king in enemy territory requires not just physical preparation, but mental fortitude.
Yet Folayang has witnessed Pacio’s evolution firsthand. From their shared roots in Team Lakay to their current partnership at Lions Nation MMA, the veteran has seen the younger fighter’s relentless pursuit of excellence.
Pacio’s comeback from a partially torn ACL to knock out Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks in February demonstrated the championship heart that Folayang knows so well.
Now, with the torch being passed, the former lightweight king sees qualities in his teammate that remind him of his own championship runs. Folayang added:
“Joshua has always been a student of the game. He’s disciplined, humble, and willing to push himself beyond his limits. His fight IQ is very high, and he knows how to adapt inside the circle.
“But more than that, his heart is unmatched. He fights not just for himself, but for the people who believe in him, for the Philippines, and ultimately for the glory of God. That’s what makes him dangerous and capable of achieving something this big.”
Fight Game Asia 