Preview: ONE on Prime Video 14

Lightweights

Eduard Folayang (22-13, 12-11 ONE) vs. Amir Khan (14-9, 14-8 ONE)

Many see ONE as a new, fresh MMA promotion. However, it has already built up a fair amount of history, with certain fighters amassing 20-plus fights in the organization. This applies to both combatants in this lightweight showcase, though amusingly, they are a decade apart in age. On one side stands Folayang, a former lightweight champion who recorded a sensational knockout of Shinya Aoki back in late 2016 to first win that crown. At the time, he was a powerful striker with dangerous punches and solid takedown and ground defense. Alas, there is no nice way to say it: Folayang is currently 38 and looks shopworn. He has lost five straight MMA fights and seven of his last eight, two of them coming by submission to Aoki. Compared to his prime almost a decade ago, Folayang is noticeably slower, his reactions are off and his chin is shaky, which was evident when Edson Marques knocked him out in his most recent outing in December.

Khan is only 28 years old, and all but one of his pro fights have occurred in ONE. He actually lost to Folayang back in late 2018 in a clash for the then-vacant lightweight championship. Since then, he has not fared well, either, going 3-5, with two of his victories coming via narrow split decision and his last outing resulting in a first-round knockout loss. Khan’s issue? The quality of fighters in ONE’s MMA divisions has steadily increased over the past five years while he has failed to improve at a necessary rate. Khan is primarily a striker, but his punches lack power; and in the case of his left hook and overhand right, they fall short on technique. Still, he has a solid jab, moves well and boasts decent defense. That will likely be enough to outpoint Folayang, though it would not be a surprise to see the Filipino veteran have his moments or possibly land a big fight-ending bomb. Khan by decision is the pick.

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