Shinya Aoki capped off a huge night at ONE Championship: A New Era by submitting Eduard Folayang to claim the ONE lightweight championship.
In the main event at ONE Championship: A New Era, Japan’s own Shinya Aoki challenged for lightweight gold against Eduard Folayang. It was one last chance at glory for the veteran Japanese fighter, and in the end, he made the most of it. Against the very man who took the championship from him in 2016.
Aoki moved forward immediately, throwing a high kick but nearly losing his footing. He’d follow up with a couple of kicks to the body. Folayang would answer with a right hand that landed. Going to the ground, it was Aoki on top, in guard. He quickly slipped to mount, locking in an arm-triangle choke. Aoki didn’t have a ton of room to work against the fence, but the veteran wisely pushed off the cage, creating the space necessary. Tightening his grip, Aoki refused to let go. Soon enough, Eduard Folayang was forced to tap! Shinya Aoki, in his native Japan in front of thousands of supportive Japanese fans, had won a major title, putting the icing on the cake that has been his storied career!
“Still tomorrow, I will go on like this. Every day!” Aoki exclaimed after the fight, with more left to give.
Shinya Aoki def. Eduard Folayang by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 2:34
