Streaking Banario eyes 6th straight victory in Shanghai

BAGUIO. Former ONE Championship featherweight world champion Honorio Banario ponders on his game plan while having an early morning workout at the Baguio Athletic Bowl. (Photo by Roderick Osis)
BAGUIO. Former ONE Championship featherweight world champion Honorio Banario ponders on his game plan while having an early morning workout at the Baguio Athletic Bowl. (Photo by Roderick Osis)

FORMER ONE Championship featherweight world champion Honorio Banario is re-emerging as one of the top lightweight contender after his unforgettable strings of losses from 2013 to 2015.

The Team Lakay veteran went on a five-bout skid between 2013 and 2015 after winning the inaugural featherweight crown and was on the verge of retirement when he decided to take a step away from competition to regain his bearings.

Coming back to the cage as a lightweight a year after, Banario looked like a new man.

“I have always believed in myself, but I was surprised to have done what I did,” Banario said as quoted in ONE Championship website. “With the help of my teammates, and the support of my friends and my family, I continued with my career and it was a good decision.”

Banario is on an unprecedented five-bout win streak, defeating a handful of solid opponents, among those are Eddie Ng, Jaroslav Jartim, and top lightweight Adrian Pang.

With momentum on his side, Banario is closer than ever to a shot at the ONE lightweight world championship held currently by Martin Nguyen.

“Right now, I’m just motivated to keep on winning. Whether that means I’m on the road to another title shot or not,” said Banario. “I just want to beat whoever they put in front of me. If that leads to the title, then I’m fine with it.”

Banario is set to return to action at ONE: Beyond the Horizon, which takes place September 8 at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai, China. He will face top lightweight Amir Khan of Singapore in a battle with serious title implications.

Khan, a former Muay Thai champion, is coming off a solid technical knockout victory over Korean Sung Jong Lee. He is known as a dangerous striker, capable of finishing contests quickly and efficiently behind his Muay Thai experience.

“Amir [Khan] is a hungry young lion and one of the top contenders at lightweight. He’s tall and long and uses his distance very well. It’s going to be a good challenge for me. If I can defeat him, I can gain more solid footing among the division’s best,” said Banario.

Banario believes the bout will be a match–up between Muay Thai against.

Khan, who represents Evolve MMA in Singapore has faced some of the toughest strikers in the promotion and has come away with 10 wins and just three defeats. But he has never faced a wushu stylist with equal amount of power.

“We may not have the advanced facilities, or every resource at our disposal, but I don’t see it as a disadvantage. We have each other, and because we operate on very little, I think it makes us hungrier to prove that Team Lakay is world-class and one of the best teams in the world despite our limited resources,” added Banario.

The 28-year-old’s reinvention as a lightweight has taken him on a wild five-bout win streak. He is now gunning for his sixth straight win and knocking on the door of a world title shot.

“I’m confident of victory. I know it won’t be easy but I know what it will take to win,” Banario concluded. Roderick Osis

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