30 July 2019
By Kevin Estrada
WIth five fighters in both the prelim and main cards, Team Lakay knows that a massive statement is needed to further solidify their claim as the top MMA outfits ahead of ONE: Dawn of Heroes tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.
At their press conference last Tuesday at the City of Dreams, Geje Eustaquio, Edward Folayang and Danny Kingad hopes that they will not let the Pinoy crowd down with a huge pressure to bounce back.
For the Gravity, he does not mind about the short notice on his World Grand Prix replacement bout with Japan’s Yuya Wakamatsu, but he hopes that a win would not just gave him the stand-by slot, but a more important fight ahead.
“For the past 27 days it’s been hard for me,” Eustaquio admitted, but the short time has taught him to persevere and be ready for the challenge ahead.”I made it here, 100% ready and confident to get the victory.”
Despite the respect he gave to his opponent, he throws a huge shade on Wakamatsu, showing that he is dead serious to be back on track, including a potential fourth fight with a familiar foe.
“I respect this guy, but not this time Yuya. Not this time,” he stressed, which was met with a roaring crowd that filled the Grand Ballroom.
“Because I believed that one more win and get me closer. Who knows, God permits, it will become the fourth time with Adriano Moraes in Japan,” he added, referring to ONE’s 100th card which will be held on October.
Kingad meanwhile, has lauded that Reece Mclaren was his inspiration to take MMA, but it did not matter now when they square off at the ring tomorrow night.
“Talagang pinaghandaan para sa ating lahat,” said The King who had 12-1 record heading into their World Grand Prix Flyweight Semifinal.
Lastly, the Landslide was warned by Eddie Alvarez that “he picked the wrong guy and at the wrong time”‘ ahead of the WGP Lightweight Semifinal, but the former ONE FC World Champion was always ready to the task as he fights for the sixth time at MOA, and 4-2 overall at home.
“This is God’s time that me and him [Alvarez] will be facing,” Folayang quipped as he quickly moved on from his title loss to Shinya Aoki in Tokyo last March.”That chapter is already closed.”
He ended his pre-match speech with a word of respect to every martial artist.
“In Martial Arts, everyone is a hero.”
Follow the writer on Twitter: @kevinlestrada
