Daven Tamayo

MMA: Zamboanga rooting for 'true legend' Folayang against Aoki

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17424052602821742405304820.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino MMA fighters Denice Zamboanga and Eduard Folayang. ONE Championship/Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino MMA fighters Denice Zamboanga and Eduard Folayang. <em>ONE Championship/Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span>MANILA -- ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga will be one of the countless Filipinos cheering on Eduard Folayang when the former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion returns to action this Sunday.</div><p>Folayang faces old rival Shinya Aoki one more time at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on March 23 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan, where the Filipino looks to even the score against the Japanese legend.</p><p>Zamboanga is hopeful that Folayang -- a fighter whom she idolizes -- will end the rivalry on a high note.</p><p>&quot;Eduard Folayang is a true legend in Philippine MMA, and I have so much respect for everything he has accomplished. He&#x27;s been an inspiration to so many of us, showing what the true Filipino fighting spirit is,&quot; she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/3/11/mma-inspired-eduard-folayang-vows-to-bring-landslide-at-one-172-2141">READ: Inspired Eduard Folayang vows to bring &#x27;Landslide&#x27; at ONE 172</a></div><p>Aoki currently holds a 2-1 lead in their series, and Folayang wants nothing more than to even the score before the grappling wizard calls it a career.</p><p>Zamboanga is confident that Folayang can get the job done, especially as &quot;Landslide&quot; is highly motivated. This, after all, is the first time the Filipino icon will face Aoki under the Lions Nation MMA banner.</p><p>That team has been successful since its inception. She saw that firsthand at ONE 171: Qatar. There, Joshua Pacio unified the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title in his own rivalry match against Jarred &quot;The Monkey God&quot; Brooks. </p><p>With that in mind, Zamboanga is confident that Folayang can do the same against Aoki. </p><p>&quot;I saw how much the Lions Nation team has evolved, especially after watching Joshua&#x27;s fight against Jared Brooks, and that makes me even more excited to see Eduard in action,&quot; Zamboanga said. </p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s facing a longtime rival, and I know how much this means to him.&quot; </p><p>While she won&#x27;t be in Japan to cheer Folayang on, Zamboanga will be cheering her heart out behind her TV screen — and offering the only thing she can do now for Folayang, which is to pray. </p><p>After all, divine intervention worked well for his teammates — and she believes Folayang has done the necessary preparation to make this happen. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m rooting for him and praying for his victory,” Zamboanga said, &quot;believing that his hard work and experience will pay off.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/1/26/after-long-road-to-one-s-mountaintop-denice-zamboanga-already-eyeing-next-peak-1139">READ: After long road to ONE&#x27;s mountaintop, Denice Zamboanga already eyeing next peak</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/am-eS6M_57Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VWD4RtDAUPQ?&amp;pp=0gcJCU8JAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Denice Zamboanga will be one of the countless Filipinos cheering on Eduard Folayang when the former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion returns to action this Sunday.</p>

Denice Zamboanga will be one of the countless Filipinos cheering on Eduard Folayang when the former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion returns to action this Sunday.