Eduard Folayang Not Underestimating Shozo Isojima In Striker-Versus-Grappler Battle At The Inner Circle 21
Fifteen years after his ONE Championship debut, one Filipino icon still refuses to let Father Time write the final word.
Former multi-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang meets Japanese judoka Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima in a lightweight MMA co-main event at The Inner Circle 21 on Friday, July 10. The bout streams live for members from Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium in Asia primetime.
At 42, Folayang refuses to underestimate anyone standing across from him, no matter how large the experience gap.
“I’ve never underestimated any opponent, and I never will. I can’t say I’m more experienced, although it is an advantage for me, but nothing is certain in this sport,” he stated.
“I see him as a dangerous opponent, especially if he gets to his spots, which is his wrestling.”
Isojima announced his ONE Championship arrival with a dominant TKO victory over Nicolas Vigna at ONE Fight Night 36 last October. His wrestling and ground-and-pound have proven difficult for opponents to escape.
The 28-year-old Japanese star carries a 14-year age gap into the matchup, and Folayang is acutely aware of it. That awareness has shaped a very specific game plan.
“The game plan is to make him play to my strengths, which will always be my striking. I need to be careful in instances where he can close in and dictate his style. The key for me is movement, finding my rhythm, and connecting on my combinations,” Folayang explained.
“This is a good test for me. He’s a lot younger than me. I’m looking at a lot of areas that make him dangerous and erring with caution on these exchanges.”
The veteran has also studied Isojima’s back-to-back losses to Adrian Lee and reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo. He believes those setbacks exposed clear openings.
“There are instances where capitalizing on small opportunities will come. Tye Ruotolo is an amazing grappler, and he was able to impose his will. Adrian also finished him on the ground, so I see he still has vulnerabilities there as well,” the Baguio City native noted.
For all the analysis, Folayang’s mindset remains refreshingly simple heading into fight week. Fifteen years into his career, that clarity has not wavered.
“The biggest prediction is I’ll win. How? I guess your guess is as good as mine. That’s a good question, how I’ll win. I’ll leave it as a question for now and have the answers come fight time. I’m just predicting I’ll win in any way I can,” Folayang offered.
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