Former ONE championship lightweight title holder Eduard Folayang is not ready to call it a career just yet. That, despite losing his second straight fight, and fourth out of his last five, at Inside the Matrix on Friday.
Folayang (22-10) has shared the cage with some impressive names of late, including Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez. The Filipino fighter has not, however, been finding the results he clearly wants. His only win in his past five fights came a year ago, a technical decision victory against Amarsanaa Tsogookhuu in a fight stopped early due to an accidental headbutt.
On Friday against Antonio Caruso, who was making just his second appearance under the ONE Championship banner, Folayang was on the wrong end of a unanimous decision.
“I really need to assess my performance, because my mind is very clear on this fight,” said Folayang following the bout. “But I think my conditioning didn’t do well. So I really need to check some small details that I’ve made mistakes [in], that I need to fix again.”
The former champion also gave credit to opponent Caruso. “I think I did well, in all the rounds, but you know, it’s my opponent’s night.”
Folayang will soon turn 36. Not a death knell, but perhaps the beginning of the end in the lighter weight classes. He’ll be existing his prime, but despite his recent struggles, Folayang said following Inside the Matrix that “I’m not contemplating retirement yet. I think it’s just some mistakes that we will go through again, I think this is one of those seasons we’re in. It’s wintertime for me, but I need to reassess myself and I’ll be back in the [winner’s] circle again.”
Watch the full ONE Championship: Inside the Matrix post-fight media session with Eduard Folayang above.
