ONE FC: Honorio Banario prepares for ‘win-hungry’ Eddie Ng

MANILA, Philippines – Even though Eddie Ng has been out of action for over a year and is coming off a two-fight losing skid, Filipino fighter Honorio Banario is not taking the Hong Kong native lightly.

Both men are scheduled to face each other in a 3-round lightweight contest on the undercard of ONE Championship’s “Heroes of the World” event, which takes place at The Venetian Macau’s 15,000-seater Cotai Arena in Macau, China on August 13.

Ng has been sidelined for 14 months and has lost his last two outings inside the ONE Championship cage, tasting a first-round stoppage setback at the hands of Vincent Latoel in May 2014 before yielding to Ariel Sexton via second-round submission in May 2015.

The 30-year-old Hong Kong national has not won a single bout since October 2013 when he submitted Malaysian fighter Peter Davis with a first-round armbar, which was part of his 5-match victory parade.

Banario believes that Ng is determined to barge into the winner’s column for the first time in nearly 3 years, citing his similar desire to break his losing streak when he squared off with compatriot Vaughn Donayre last April.

“I honestly believe that he is hungry to get the win against me, especially he is coming off consecutive losses. I was in a similar situation before, so I know the feeling and the pressure,” he told Rappler.

Even if Banario is fresh from a unanimous decision victory, the 26-year-old Team Lakay representative maintained that he avoids being complacent against a well-rounded combatant like Ng.

“Fighters like Eddie Ng are more dangerous when they are coming off defeats because they will do everything just to win. I am investing a lot of time at the gym for this fight. I know he is going to bring it,” he said.

It’s suggested that Ng presents a stiff test to Banario as the Pinoy’s opponent is a lightweight mainstay, but the former ONE Championship featherweight titleholder begs to disagree with the notion.

Aside from heeding to the call of his body to move up in weight, Banario stressed that the string of losses at featherweight made him a more complete competitor.

“I was young and reckless before, but it forced me to be a better fighter. It was a painful setback, but it taught me something valuable in my young career,” he stated. 

When he had his lightweight debut 3 months ago, it was far from the usual fighting style of Banario as he displayed his wrestling arsenal and easily slumped Donayre to the mat with 5 takedown attempts.

In addition, Banario’s superb top control kept the action on the mat, allowing him to punish Donayre with punches and elbows.

“This is mixed martial arts. You have to know all departments of the game. You won’t survive if you’re a one-dimensional fighter,” Banario shared. 

Although his new weight class and grappling pedigree gave him a new fearsome stature in ONE Championship, Banario still lauded his striking background, which he considers as his leverage over Ng.

“I am happy with my new weight class and wrestling arsenal, but striking is still my bread-and-butter. My Wushu pedigree is part of my system. I know Eddie Ng is aware of it because it is my advantage coming into the fight,” he ended. – Rappler.com