‘I Feel So Thankful’ – Shozo Isojima Reflects On Statement Victory Over Eduard Folayang At The Inner Circle 21
Japanese star Shozo “Great Teacher” Isojima had a point to prove after a rough stretch, and he made sure everyone watching got the message loud and clear at The Inner Circle 21 on Friday, July 10.
He delivered exactly that statement by stopping former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang in the co-main event clash of the Asia primetime card in Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium, which streamed exclusively for subscribers via live.onefc.com.
The finish came in chaotic fashion. Both men traded knockdowns in a wild opening round before the 28-year-old’s follow-up combination sealed the deal, forcing the referee to step in at the 4:29 mark of their lightweight MMA matchup.
Isojima understood exactly what beating someone of Folayang’s status meant for his own career, and adding the Filipino MMA legend’s name to a resume that now sits at 7-2 is the kind of signature win he has been chasing.
He said:
“I feel so thankful, and also I’m thinking that my victory here today is quite impactful. [I’m] happy about that.”
The finished product, however, looked nothing like how Isojima had drawn it up beforehand. He walked into fight night carrying a chip on his shoulder after two successive setbacks, and the chaotic nature of the win only made the result taste sweeter.
Folayang wasted no time making things difficult early and, for a moment, it looked like the night could unravel entirely.
The N-Trust affiliate recalled:
“He took me down [with that right hand]. At that time, [I] was panicking. But luckily, I recovered and put him on the ground too. That helped a lot.
“I ended up winning against him by striking. But, to be honest, this is my first time finishing a fight with striking. I’m very happy about that, but the situation was very up and down.”
Impressive as the finish looked from the outside, the 28-year-old remains his own harshest critic. The turbulent nature of the fight left him with plenty to reflect on the moment the adrenaline wore off.
For a competitor who prides himself on execution, simply getting his hand raised was never enough. Isojima made it clear there is still real work ahead before he considers himself satisfied.
He said:
“I want to be able to improve [the ability of] controlling the performance of the game, and also improve [my] level. I can’t be like this. I’d rate my performance four out of ten.”
Isojima Shows Folayang Gratitude, Eyes Redemption Against Old Foes
That same self-critical edge did not stop Shozo Isojima from taking a moment after the fight to show Eduard Folayang the respect he believes the veteran has earned.
“Great Teacher” has followed the Filipino warrior’s career for years, long before the two ever crossed paths. That admiration carried directly into the pair’s exchange once the final bell sounded at The Inner Circle 21.
He made a point of expressing that admiration to the former kingpin directly, regardless of what the 42-year-old decides to do next.
Isojima said:
“Folayang is an athlete whom I’ve respected for a long time. I know him. I watched his fights against Shinya Aoki. So, I showed my gratitude toward Folayang [during our post-fight chat].
“It doesn’t matter if he’s going to continue to fight [or if] he’s going to quit his fighting career. I want Folayang to have a prosperous life after this.”
With the win now behind him, Isojima has turned his attention to the road ahead. Two outstanding scores still weigh on his mind, and the emphatic nature of his triumph has only sharpened his appetite to settle them.
Rather than chase something new, he sees unfinished business as the clearest path toward proving exactly how far he has come. A homecoming stage would only sweeten the deal, and the timing could not be better to make that happen.
The Japanese star added:
“My next goal is to get a fight on ONE SAMURAI in Japan. For my next opponent, to be honest, I want to gain revenge on either Adrian Lee or Tye Ruotolo.”
