ONE Reign of Kings goes July 27th and the Friday card is stacked. Some of the prime features of this event include Lightweight bouts that could establish the next #1 contender. Shannon Wiratchai takes on legendary submission artist/ former ONE titlist Shinya Aoki and Eduard Folayang steps into the cage with the dangerous sambo practitioner Aziz Pahrudinov.
The current Lightweight/ Featherweight ONE champion is vying for the interim Bantamweight title in the main event but Martin Nguyen will undoubtedly have a modicum of focus on these key bouts at 155lbs. ONE Reign of Kings promises some entertaining martial arts showcases as well as bouts of tremendous divisional importance. Dylan Bowker was able to catch up with Shannon Wiratchai and Eduard Folayang ahead of their respective fights for ONE Championship on Friday, July 27th.
Shannon Wiratchai:
–You have a 7-2 record in ONE Championship…….6 finishes in seven wins……What’s your mentality heading into what is arguably the most important fight of your career?
Shinya Aoki is a legend and my idol growing up. It’s not just an important fight. It’s one of the most significant of my career. I’ve trained very hard for this matchup, and I plan on giving a great performance. To compete against my martial arts hero, it’s a dream come true.
–You’re dating Rika Ishige…..How much of a benefit is it to be with someone who’s also a high level MMA fighter?
It’s great to work with like-minded people and partners who share your passion for martial arts. At Bangkok Fight Lab and Tiger Muay Thai, we work with many world champions and it is an honor to be in their presence.
–This fight seems like it has special importance, even more so than prior fights…Aoki is a legendary fighter after all…How important is it for your legacy to secure an impressive win here?
Beating a legend like Shinya Aoki will do wonders for my ranking in the division, even more so because he is the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. I have my eyes on a title shot. If I can defeat Shinya, it should bring me closer to my goal.
–Have been with ONE for the bulk of your pro career (since 2013). What does it mean to you to grow as a martial artist alongside ONE Championship as it continues to grow as a promotion?
ONE Championship is an incredible organization and I am proud to be a part of the family. They really take care of their athletes. Thai martial arts has grown immensely over the past few years, and a big reason for that is ONE’s work in the country. I will continue to showcase my talents in the ONE cage.
–It seems like proving people wrong motivates you in a big way based on prior articles/ interviews featuring you. Does that kind of motivation play a big role heading into this Aoki bout?
Of course, when you enter fights with that chip on your shoulder like you have something to prove, you get an extra boost in morale. I am motivated to show everyone that Thai martial artists are world class and that we can compete with the best in the world at mixed martial arts. That’s what motivates me.
–You made headlines with your Super Mario riding Yoshi entrance. Anything grandiose planned for this entrance?
I have something planned of course, it’s fun and I enjoy doing these types of things. It also helps me relax walking down to the cage.
Eduard Folayang:
–Your opponent is unbeaten in MMA and is a Sambo champion out of Dagestan. How do you evaluate his skillset/ mindset overall?
He is a Russian opponent and in my experience, these guys are very well-rounded. They have good striking and grappling skills, but more emphasis on grappling. I would like to test his striking. Make no mistake about it, they are extremely tough and talented competitors. But I have strengths of my own, and they have to deal with that as well.
–What are your thoughts on competing here against a promotional newcomer in this fight?
He’s undefeated, explosive, and a finisher. In other words, a very dangerous opponent, and not just another newcomer. I welcome him to ONE Championship, but I am also excited to show him what it’s like to compete at this level. This is the premiere proving ground of martial arts in the world.
–How much of a focus is it for you to not just regain your Lightweight belt but avenge a loss in ONE Championship to Martin Nguyen?
I have that goal of regaining the title in focus. That’s what is on my mind right now. I want to show everyone that I’m not yet done in this sport, and that I still belong at the top. The road back to the title could be long and arduous, but I’m willing to traverse this road and do whatever it takes to earn another title shot. If that means I need to keep winning, then I’ll keep winning.
–Have competed for ONE since late 2011. What does it mean to you to grow as a martial artist alongside ONE Championship as it continues to grow as a promotion?
ONE Championship is a great company. I have been with the promotion since the very beginning and it has been an honor to represent the Philippines in the ONE cage. As the organization continues to grow, it gets very exciting. As a martial artist, I am always willing to test myself against the best in the world.
–It seems like ONE Championship has shined more of a spotlight on Wushu than any other MMA organizations. As a Wushu practitioner, do you think ONE has helped Wushu grow in notoriety among MMA fans?
Absolutely. Team Lakay represents the sport of wushu in the Philippines and it is an absolute honor to be able to showcase these unique skills to a global audience. ONE Championship has given us a worldwide platform to show fans what wushu is all about, and we take pride in that.
–In a prior interview, you said a loss here sets you way back in the hierarchy of 155lb title contenders. Is there extra pressure on you in this fight to perform because of that perception?
There is always the pressure to keep winning. The thing is, the lightweight division in ONE is very deep. There are so many great guys all trying to get to the top. A loss would definitely put you back at the end of the line. Keep winning and you get closer and closer.
The largest global sports media property in Asian history returns to Manila with a statement event. The card top to bottom offers something for everyone beyond the aforementioned key Lightweight bouts. There’s a main event title fight where a three division titlist could be crowned, Legends enter the arena of combat for the final time, ONE Super Series continues to offer the finest in Kickboxing as well as Muay Thai, and so much more!
ONE Reign of Kings goes on Friday, July 27th and there a few ways it can be viewed. The prelims will be streamed live on ONE Championship’s Twitter and Facebook pages. The main card for ONE Reign of Kings can be viewed internationally in real time on the ONE Championship app (can be downloaded via I-tunes in their app store or on Android via Google Play).