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Eduard Folayang refuses to fear Father Time ahead of Shozo Isojima clash at The Inner Circle 21

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Eduard Folayang refuses to fear Father Time ahead of Shozo Isojima clash at The Inner Circle 21

Fifteen years of Filipino combat sports history walk into the ring again this July, carrying the same quiet humility that built it all.

Former multi-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard Folayang meets Japanese judoka Shozo Isojima in a lightweight MMA co-main event at The Inner Circle 21 on Friday, July 10. The bout streams live for members from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Folayang has spent 15 years building a reputation as one of ONE Championship's most respected competitors. That reputation now enters its twilight stage against a hungry challenger.

Isojima announced himself in the promotion with a dominant TKO of Nicolas Vigna at ONE Fight Night 36 last October. His wrestling and ground-and-pound offense have troubled every opponent he has faced.

The 28-year-old Japanese star brings a 14-year age advantage into the matchup, a gap Folayang has no interest in hiding from. That honesty extends directly into his fight preparation.

“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.

“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.â€

Eduard Folayang studies Shozo Isojima's exploitable weaknesses

Eduard Folayang has done his homework on more than just Isojima's power. He has broken down the Japanese judoka's two most recent losses for clues.

Both defeats came against elite grapplers, and Folayang sees a pattern he intends to exploit if the opportunity arrives.

“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.

“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.â€

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MMA

Valter Walker says Josh Hokit won’t call him out for one reason

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Valter Walker says Josh Hokit won’t call him out for one reason
Valter
Walker claims he can dismantle Josh Hokit's
character.

Hokit has gained attention by playing the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's latest heel. He has gone on a
series of rants while claiming to be possessed by his alter ego,
“The Incredible Hok.†The undefeated heavyweight contender recently
took aim at Alex
Pereira, Tom
Aspinall and Ilia
Topuria, drawing a reaction from Walker.

Valter Walker says Josh Hokit couldn’t handle him at a UFC
press conference

Walker noted that Hokit never took a dig at him. The Brazilian
believes Hokit avoids provoking him because he wouldn't be able to
handle him in a verbal back-and-forth. Walker claims he could send
the American's alter ego to hell the moment they start trading
barbs at a press conference.

“There’s no my name in there, u know why?†Walker wrote on X.
“Because he wouldn’t be able to stand listening to me at a press
conference or anywhere else, cause that character would go straight
to f*cking hell when I start. U are real cute, taco boy.â€

Hokit (10-0) has finished three of his four UFC wins, helping earn
him a title shot in the heavyweight division. He is scheduled to
challenge Ciryl Gane
(14-2) for the heavyweight title at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Meanwhile,
Walker (16-1) has finished five straight fights with leg-based
submissions since suffering his lone professional loss in his UFC
debut in 2024.

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MMA

UFC newcomer Luis Hernandez wants to ‘pull a Kevin Holland’

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UFC newcomer Luis Hernandez wants to ‘pull a Kevin Holland’
Luis
Hernandez wants to rise to stardom.

Hernandez earned his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract with a submission win
on
Dana White's Contender Series earlier this month. He then made
a 10-day turnaround, stepping up on two days' notice for his UFC
debut against Sedriques
Dumas at
UFC Vegas 121.

“The Stache†earned a $100,000 performance bonus for forcing Dumas
to tap to a guillotine choke in under a minute. The Miami-Dade
Sheriff's Office deputy is looking to stay active in two divisions
and wants to become a household name.

Luis Hernandez wants to fight at middleweight and welterweight
after his unbeaten UFC start

Hernandez's short-notice UFC debut came at light heavyweight.
However, he wants to primarily compete at middleweight while
occasionally dropping to welterweight. The 30-year-old wants to
stay active and become a household name before turning his
attention to championship aspirations.

“I'm a company man,†Hernandez said on the “Deep Waters†podcast.
“I'm gonna make the fights happen. Any weight class you call me,
I’m about that money… I want to pull a Kevin
Holland and do both 170 and 185. I do want to go up the
rankings, but I want to become first a household name.â€

Hernandez holds a 9-0 record, with all nine of his victories coming
by stoppage.

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MMA

Raoni Barcelos shares video from hospital bed, vows to ‘come back stronger’ after terrifying UFC Vegas 121 loss

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Raoni Barcelos shares video from hospital bed, vows to ‘come back stronger’ after terrifying UFC Vegas 121 loss

Raoni Barcelos released a video from his hospital bed almost 48 hours after his scary defeat to Raul Rosas Jr. to confirm he's “doing well†and already anticipates a “stronger†return.

Barcelos had his five-fight winning streak snapped in the main event of UFC Vegas 121, which went down this past Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, after collapsing unconscious in the fifth round in his bantamweight clash. The 39-year-old veteran shared a short statement Monday morning to say he was “doing great,†and thank fans on a video post hours later.

“Hey everyone, how's it going?†Barcelos said in Portuguese. “I'm here to send you a message and let you know that I'm doing well. I'm doing really well and undergoing all the exams here at the hospital. This is just the hospital's protocol, so I have to go through all of them. That's it, guys. I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and all the kind messages. Please keep sending that positive energy.â€

Barcelos was ahead in the scorecards and likely three minutes away from a decision win — had they gone the distance — before passing out in the clinch and needing immediate medical assistance, getting transported to a local hospital. Rosas Jr. was declared the winner by technical knockout.

“We move forward, on to the next one,†Barcelos said. “I gave everything I had inside that cage. Like I said before, I was only leaving that cage if I was carried out, and that's exactly how it happened. It wasn't the way I wanted it to be. I wanted to become champion and leave with the victory, but God knows everything. So we move on to the next one.

“I'm here, doing well. I'll be back, and I'll come back stronger. And I want to send all of you a kiss and a big hug. Thank you so much for everything. Thank you, and let's keep moving forward!â€

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