Skip to main content »
Igorotage

Eduard Folayang: One of the Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time

Eduard Folayang was recognized as one of the Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time. A proud Igorot warrior from Mountain Province, Philippines.

Eduard Folayang recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time
  • Name: Eduard Folayang
  • Pro MMA Record: 23-13-0 (Win-Loss-Draw)
  • Nickname: Landslide
  • Current Streak: 1 Win
  • Date of Birth: November 22, 1984 (40 years old)
  • Last Fight: December 02, 2022
  • Weight Class: Welterweight | Last Weigh-In: 167.9 lbs
  • Affiliation: Team Lakay
  • Height: 5'7" (170cm) | Reach: 68.5" (174cm)
  • Career Disclosed Earnings: $5,000 USD
  • Born: Sadanga, Mountain Province, Philippines
  • Fighting out of: Baguio City, Philippines
  • Married to: Genevieve Aloy ( 2 children)

Eduard "Landslide" Folayang, among 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time

Eduard "Landslide" Folayang, a proud Igorot mixed martial artist from Sadanga, Mountain Province, Philippines, was added to the book "50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All-Time". The book published by Vernon Go was launched at the Sheraton Manila Hotel Ballroom on Andrews Avenue, Pasay City on January 21, 2020.

"Everything we do, we must put it to heart... If we continue to embody the values of martial arts, then it will be easier to influence the people with what we do." Folayang said.

Eduard "Landslide" Folayang, among 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes of All Time

Folayang is now among the likes of his childhood hero, boxing legend Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao; pool wizard "The Magician" Efren Bata Reyes; and four-time bowling World Champion Paeng Nepomuceno.

Boxing legend Senator Manny Pacquiao welcomes ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang in his office after bringing honor and pride for the country. Contributed photo

While the Igorot mix martial artist has already established his legacy as an athlete with two ONE Lightweight World Championship belts under his name and countless gold medals as the Philippine representative at international wushu events, the Igorot warrior has no intention of stopping now.

The Igorot pride said, his ultimate goal is to inspire others through his actions.

"One way or another, of course, we need to win. The more you win, the more audience you inspire," Folayang said. "It's hard to talk and influence people when the results are contrasting. When they see good results, for sure it will attract them."

Eduard Folayang claims ONE World Championship after knocking out Shinya Aoki ONE FC

Folayang credited the Singaporean MMA promotion ONE Championship for making him one of the most recognizable faces in the mixed world of martial arts.

"ONE is so instrumental in putting me where I am today. Their platform reaches far beyond the Philippines. We're getting known outside of the country and it's because of ONE Championship, the Igorot pride said.

"The good thing about it is that they're focusing on the values of martial arts. I wouldn't be here without ONE. I am always grateful because without them I would not have been part of this," he added.

Folayang also credited ONE CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong for doing a very good job in motivating many athletes to participate in the ONE Championship.

Eduard "Landslide" Folayang's Story

Life has not been easy for young Eduard Folayang.

Born in a small town of Sadanga, Mountain Province, Philippines, the future champ was raised under dire circumstances. While growing up, five of his siblings died of sickness. Like any Igorot family, his unschooled parents understood the value of education. Her parents made sure their surviving children could attend school.

Yearning for a better life for his family and to help alleviate his parent's burden, the Wushu practitioner utilized the sport to earn a scholarship from the University of the Cordilleras.

Because of his talent, he was drafted to the Philippine Wushu team. He then won numerous gold medals from the Southeast Asian Games and numerous international competitions.

The Igorot warrior then shifted to mixed martial arts under Team Lakay's father Mark Sangiao. In his debut fight in June 2007, he won a Filipino Welterweight Championship.

URCC and Martial Combat Champion Eduard Folayang

Folayang then rose to prominence in the Singapore Martial Combat promotion when he knocked over opponents after opponents, capturing him a major event venue at the inaugural show of the ONE Championship in September 2011.

Team Lakay Eduard Folayang defeats Shinya Aoki via third-round TKO for the prestigious lightweight belt at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR ONEFC

In 2016, five years after joining ONE, Folayang shocked the world of martial arts by scoring a third-round technical knockout against ruling champion Shinya Aoki to take the ONE Lightweight World Title.

Folayang shuts off critics after successfully defending his belt against Malaysian martial artist Ev "The Extraterrestrial" Ting.

Manny Pacquiao called him "one of the legends of mixed martial arts in the Philippines," and confirmed the Igorot's superstar status.

Eduard Folayang with his kids Yeshuareigns, Yahamaziach, and wife Genevieve.

Eduard met his wife, Genevieve Aloy, at the gym. The couple tied the knot in April 2015 at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in Baguio and were later blessed with two beautiful daughters, Yeshuareigns and Yahamaziach.

Eduard "Landslide" Folayang Fight History

Result Fighter Event Method/Referee R Time
win Amir Khan One Championship - One on Prime Video 14: Stamp vs. Ham - Sep / 29 / 2023 KO (Punch)/Herb Dean 3 1:57
loss Edson Marques One Championship - One on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin - Dec / 02 / 2022 TKO Punches/Olivier Coste 2 2:53
loss Lipeng Zhang One Championship - Battleground - 2Jul / 30 / 2021 Decision Unanimous/Olivier Coste 3 5:00
loss Shinya Aoki One Championship - One on TNT - 4Apr / 28 / 2021 Submission Armbar/Mohamad Sulaiman 1 4:20
loss Antonio Caruso One Championship - Inside the Matrix - Oct / 30 / 2020 Decision Unanimous/Justin Brown 3 5:00
loss Pieter Buist One Championship - Fire and Fury - Jan / 31 / 2020 Decision Split/Kemp Cheng 3 5:00
win Tsogookhuu Amarsanaa One Championship - Masters of Fate - Nov / 08 / 2019 Technical Decision Unanimous/Kemp Cheng 2 2:31
loss Eddie Alvarez One Championship - Dawn of Heroes - Aug / 02 / 2019 Submission Rear-Naked Choke/Olivier Coste 1 2:16
loss Shinya Aoki One Championship - A New Era - Mar / 31 / 2019 Technical Submission Arm-Triangle Choke/Olivier Coste 1 2:34
win Amir Khan One Championship - Conquest of Champions - Nov / 23 / 2018 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 5 5:00
win Aziz Pahrudinov One Championship - Reign of Kings - Jul / 27 / 2018 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 3 5:00
win Kharun Atlangeriev One Championship - Unstoppable Dreams - May / 18 / 2018 Decision Unanimous/Olivier Coste 3 5:00
loss Martin Nguyen One Championship - Legends of the World - Nov / 10 / 2017 KO Punch/Olivier Coste 2 2:20
win Ev Ting One Championship - Kings of Destiny - Apr / 21 / 2017 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 5 5:00
win Shinya Aoki One Championship - Defending Honor - Nov / 11 / 2016 TKO Knees and Punches/Yuji Shimada 3 0:41
win Adrian Pang One Championship 45 - Heroes of the World - Aug / 13 / 2016 Decision Unanimous/Olivier Coste 3 5:00
win Tetsuya Yamada One Championship 38 - Clash of Heroes - Jan / 29 / 2016 Decision Unanimous/Joey Lepiten 3 5:00
loss Timofey Nastyukhin One FC 23 - Warrior's Way - Dec / 05 / 2014 KO Flying Knee and Soccer Kicks/Yuji Shimada 1 3:11
win Kotetsu Boku One FC 15 - Rise of Heroes - May / 02 / 2014 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 3 5:00
win Vincent Latoel One FC 13 - Moment of Truth - Dec / 06 / 2013 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 3 5:00
loss Kamal Shalorus One FC 9 - Rise to Power - May / 31 / 2013 Decision Unanimous/Yuji Shimada 3 5:00
loss Lowen Tynanes URCC 22 - Dekada - Dec / 01 / 2012 TKO Doctor Stoppage 1 6:22
win Felipe Enomoto One FC 5 - Pride of a Nation - Aug / 31 / 2012 Decision Unanimous/Moritaka Oshiro 3 5:00
loss Ole Laursen One FC 3 - War of the Lions - Mar / 31 / 2012 Decision Split/Matt Hume 3 5:00
win Wadson Teixeira URCC Cebu 7 - Dominate - Jan / 13 / 2012 TKO Submission to Elbows 1 0:56
win A-Sol Kwon One FC - Champion vs. Champion - Sep / 03 / 2011 Decision Unanimous/Matt Hume 3 5:00
win Vuyisile Colossa MC - Martial Combat - 12Oct / 16 / 2010 Decision Unanimous 3 5:00
win Sheri Guleng Bao MC - Martial Combat - 5Jul / 14 / 2010 Decision Unanimous 5 5:00
win Egon Racz MC - Martial Combat - 4Jun / 17 / 2010 Submission Guillotine Choke 1 4:40
win Doo Jae Jung URCC 16 - Reckoning - Mar / 27 / 2010 TKO Punches 1 3:15
loss Jon Tuck Gorilla Warfare 3 - Confrontation - Nov / 21 / 2009 KO Punches/Tony D'Angelo 1 0:08
win A.J. Aguon URCC 14 - Aggression - Jul / 18 / 2009 Decision Unanimous 2 10:00
win Jerome Norita Gorilla Warfare 2 - Battle Ready - Mar / 28 / 2009 TKO Punches 1 0:52
win Jerry Legaspi URCC 13 - Indestructible - Nov / 22 / 2008 TKO Punches and Kicks to the Body 1 0:15
win Caloy Baduria URCC 12 - Supremacy - Jul / 05 / 2008 TKO Punches 1 3:41
win Allan Co URCC 10 - X - Jun / 30 / 2007 TKO Punches 1 7:24

50 greatest Filipino athletes of all time

The chairman/CEO of the yearbook Grace Glory Go and Vernon discussed the idea of releasing a sports edition at a meeting with fellow Star sports columnists Bill Velasco and Joaquin M. Henson in January 2019. And for the first time in the history of the yearbook, the theme was about sports and it honored the 50 greatest Filipino athletes of all time.

List of 50 greatest Filipino athletes of all time in 23 different sports:

Basketball

  • JuneMar Fajardo
  • Robert Jaworski
  • Caloy Loyzaga
  • Alvin Patrimonio
  • Ramon Fernandez
  • Ambrosio Padilla
  • Tony Genato
  • Allan Caidic

Boxing

  • Manny Pacquiao
  • Donnie Nietes
  • Nonito Donaire Jr.
  • Gerry Peñalosa
  • Flash Elorde
  • Onyok Velasco

Bowling

  • Paeng Nepomuceno
  • Bong Coo
  • Lita dela Rosa
  • C. J. Suarez
  • Biboy Rivera
  • Krizziah Tabora.

Billiards

  • Efren Reyes
  • Francisco Bustamante
  • Rubilen Amit

Swimming

  • Gertrudes Lozada
  • Haydee Coloso Espino
  • Akiko Thomson

Athletics

  • Lydia de Vega
  • Elma Muros
  • Mona Sulaiman

Football

  • Paulino Alcantara
  • Phil Younghusband

Bodybuilding

  • Cheryl Nakanishi
  • Roman Cortuna

Arnis

  • Roland Dantes
  • Ciriaco Canete

Golf

  • Ben Arda
  • Jennifer Rosales

Tennis

  • Felix Barrientos
  • Treat Huey

Gymnastics/taekwondo

  • Bea Lucero-Lhuillier

Equestrian

  • Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski

MMA

  • Eduard Folayang

Jiu-jitsu

  • Meggie Ochoa

Powerlifting

  • Adeline Dumapong

Table tennis

  • Josephine Medina

Chess

  • Eugene Torre

Shooting

  • Jethro Dionisio

Motor sports

  • Pocholo Ramirez

Baseball

  • Boy Codiñera

Weightlifting

  • Hidilyn Diaz

Born Igorot, Die Igorot


Sharing is caring, kailian!

We do hope you find something great in this story. If you find this helpful, please do share it with the people you care about.


Igorotage is a platform for people to share their thoughts and ideas. The views expressed on Igorotage are the opinions of the individual users, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Igorotage.

Comments (2)

Sign in to share your thoughts. No account yet?

What to learn next?

You might also like to read more related articles filed under Athletes — or jump to a random article!

Athletes Surprise me

Eduard Folayang

Read Eduard Folayang's biography, detailing his rise from poverty to becoming a respected figure in the world of martial arts.

Aug 18 · 15 min read

Sagada's Hanging Coffins: A Unique Igorot Tradition Bringing the Departed Closer to the Heavens

Discover Sagada's hanging coffins, a unique Igorot burial tradition that brings the departed closer to the heavens in Mountain Province.

Oct 30 · 3 min read

The Legacy of Macli-ing Dulag: Respected Igorot Leader and Environmental Defender

Discover the legacy of Macli-ing Dulag, a respected Igorot pangat who fought against the Chico River Dam Project for indigenous rights.

Oct 24 · 4 min read

Lamberto Vera Avellana: Igorot's First Filipino National Artist in Theater and Film

Discover Lamberto Vera Avellana, the first Igorot Filipino National Artist in Theater and Film, and his impact on Philippine cinema.

Oct 21 · 3 min read

Godwin Amos Langbayan: Igorot Wins 2 Gold Medals at World Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Godwin Amos Langbayan, the first Igorot world champion, wins 2 gold medals at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Japan.

Sep 26 · 3 min read

1LT Jerson P. Balagot: Igorot is Top 3 in Infantry Officer Advance Course

1LT Jerson Balagot, an Igorot from Benguet, ranked 3rd in the Philippine Army's Infantry Officer Advance Course CL184-2024.

Samuel L. Mendoza Jr.: The First Igorot Referee in the Philippine Football League

Samuel L. Mendoza Jr. made history as the first Igorot referee in the Philippine Football League (PFL), inspiring future athletes from the Cordillera.

Sep 21 · 4 min read

Bernadette Sembrano

Did you know that Bernadette Sembrano, a renowned broadcast journalist, is proudly Igorot? Discover her distinguished career in Philippine media.

Sep 9 · 10 min read

Igorot Para-Athlete Jerrold Mangliwan Wraps Up Paris 2024 Paralympics

Jerrold Mangliwan, the Igorot para-athlete, finished 12th in the Men's 100m T52 at Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Sep 7 · 1 min read

Agustina Bantiloc: First Igorot Para-Archer Represents Philippines at the 2024 Paralympics

Agustina Bantiloc, an Igorot para-athlete, made history as the first Filipino para archer to compete in the 2024 Paralympics.

Aug 30 · 2 min read