Banario ready to face top lightweights in ONE Championship

MANILA, Philippines – After picking up his second-straight victory as a lightweight competitor, homegrown talent Honorio Banario claims he is more than willing to dance with the division’s notable names in ONE Championship. 

The 26-year-old native of Mankayan, Benguet is fresh from his razor-thin decision victory over lightweight mainstay Eddie Ng on the undercard of ONE Championship’s “Heroes of the World” event in Macau, China on Saturday, August 13.

Ng came out looking like a man possessed in the first round by swinging his wild punches and shooting for takedowns, but it was Banario who was able to have enough in the tank down the stretch to take a 3-round unanimous decision. 

It was far from the usual fighting style of Banario as he opted to enter Ng’s wrestling wheelhouse and toyed the Hong Kong native with a sturdy top control and takedown defense. 

As Ng fished for a rear-naked choke and a guillotine hold in the opening salvo, Banario scrambled his way out of the submission attempts and exchanged positions on the mat. 

The former ONE Championship featherweight titleholder was able to draw shades of his Wushu Sanshou background in the third round by wobbling his opponent with a knee and follow-up right straight. 

Working on ground game

Banario revealed that he worked extensively on his ground game in training camp as he anticipated that Ng would resort to his grappling arsenal.

“Wrestling is his bread-and-butter. I already knew that he would try to lure me on the ground. And he did. I focused on that aspect in training. I believe it surprised him,” he told Rappler. 

According to Banario, maintaining his composure all throughout the contest was part of the game plan as he already expected Ng to step on the gas pedal from the get-go. 

“Eddie Ng always throws everything off the bat in the first round. I stayed calm. Even though he’s good on the ground, I remained relaxed. That’s why I was able to take over in the last round,” he said. 

Following his back-and-forth encounter against Ng, Banario is looking for a spot in ONE Championship’s ninth trip to the Philippines, which takes place at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on December 2. 

“I really want to fight in Manila on December 2. That’s my goal right now,” Banario quipped. 

With ONE Championship housing high-caliber lightweights such as Ariel Sexton, Lowen Tynanes and Kotetsu Boku, Banario asserted that his main objective is to elevate his status in the weight class’ rankings. 

“I will fight anyone who stands in front of me. I have no problem if it’s a big name or a small name in this division. What’s important is that I stay active and improve my rankings,” he stated. 

Banario refused to mention a specific lightweight fighter, but the 5-foot-9 Team Lakay representative reiterated that he will not flinch against another division giant. 

“I don’t prefer anyone and I don’t want to call out a specific fighter. But of course, the bigger name in the division, the better. I am ready,” he ended. – Rappler.com