Change of opponent does not deter Banario
A LAST- MINUTE change will see Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Honorio “The Rock” Banario battle a new opponent in ONE Championship’s “Kings of Destiny” event here in Manila later this week. But the one- time champion is not deter by it and remains confident that he will emerge victorious and extend a “rejuvenation” in his career.
Owing to personal reasons, ONE announced recently that Mr. Banario’s original opponent, Rob Lisita of Australia, had to pull out from the fight and will be replaced by Jaroslav Jartim of the Czech Republic.
Regardless of his opponent, however, Mr. Banario ( 11- 6) said he is confident of his abilities at this stage of his career, a product he said of his renewed commitment to what he does and hard work in training.
“My recent wins have given me my confidence back. I’m happy that I’m now able to show the positive outcome of my hard work. Those losses didn’t put me down; they gave me the strength to push forward. It changed my outlook in life and the sport,” said Team Lakay’s Banario, who has turned things around with three straight vic- tories after losing five consecutive times prior.
The former ONE lightweight champion gives credit to his home team and the people surrounding him for the resurgence he is having of late.
“Coach Mark [ Sangiao of Team Lakay] kept a close eye on me and tried to observe my body language. He wanted to see if my confidence would ever come back. I had to remain positive. I knew whatever I needed to find was still inside of me,” said 27-year- old Banario.
“The fans kept telling me to soldier on and keep fighting and that they still believed in me. Their words were really encouraging,” he added.
For his fight in Kings of Destiny against Mr. Jartim ( 7- 5), who is making his ONE Championship debut, the Igorot fighter said the key for him is staying calm and continuing to believe in what he can do as a fighter.
“The only person I’m concerned with is myself. I have to stay calm, and ease the pressure. The previous losses only served to teach me a valuable lesson. I’m not really going to battle with another person; I’m going to battle with myself. It’s my own fears and the negative feelings that I have to conquer. If I can beat myself, only then can I get to the next level,” Mr. Banario said.
ONE: Kings of Destiny, happening on Friday, April 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena, will be headlined by the first title defense of Filipino Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of his ONE lightweight title against Malaysian challenger Ev “E.T.” Ting.
Also on the card are Filipinos Danny Kingad, Eugene Toquero, Gina Iniong and Robin Catalan against separate foes.
Ticket information for ONE: Kings of Destiny is available at www. onefc. com. —