Eddie Alvarez earned his first win under the ONE Championship banner Friday to snap a two-fight losing streak.
The former UFC and Bellator MMA champion submitted two-time ONE lightweight titleholder Eduard Folayang at ONE Championship: Dawn Of Heroes, which was dubbed “the biggest martial arts event in Philippines history.”
The featured bout only lasted 2:16 but it was action-packed and full of momentum changes.
After being hurt and dropped by a powerful low leg kick early, Alvarez quelled Folayang’s onslaught and began working his jiu-jitsu to turn the tide.
Alvarez was eventually able to gain favourable position over his opponent and locked in a rear-naked choke that forced a tap. It was Alvarez’s first submission victory since he choked out Josh Neer in 2010 in the Bellator cage.
CHOPPING leg kick from "Landslide!" @efolayang #WeAreONE #DawnOfHeroes #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/vEirjXoNjR
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 2, 2019
The win was Alvarez’s first since he knocked out Justin Gaethje in his penultimate UFC performance back in December of 2017.
Alvarez (30-7, one no-contest) had been finished in his previous two outings – a technical knockout at the hands of Dustin Poirier in his UFC finale and a TKO loss to Timofey Nastyukhin in his ONE debut four months ago.
The 35-year-old said he was happy he could overcome adversity and get back on the winning track.
"The Underground King" on the mic right after his CRAZY comeback win @Ealvarezfight #WeAreONE #DawnOfHeroes #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/Iv0ZRmk97m
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) August 2, 2019
Friday’s fight was a semifinal matchup in ONE’s ongoing Lightweight Grand Prix. Alvarez was originally eliminated in the tournament by Nastyukhin, who was slated to face Lowen Tynanes in the semis, however Alvarez replaced Tynanes and Folayang replaced Nastyukhin.
Alvarez is now slated to face Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev in the final later this year. Arslanaliev defeated Ev Ting then Amir Khan to advance.
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