Honorio Banario Hopes for Another Run at the World Title in 2021

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines, is looking to embark on another run at the ONE World Title this year. 

ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON Official results, Xiong Jing Nan still Strawweight World Champion

ONE Championship™ (ONE), returned to the beautiful city of Shanghai with another evening of authentic world-class martial arts action. The Baoshan Arena played host to ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON, showcasing a series of compelling bouts that left fans on the edge of their seats.

Honorio Banario feels lucky to have Eduard Folayang as Training Partner

Getting to this point in his career was certainly no easy task for Team Lakay veteran Honorio “The Rock” Banario. Now that he finds himself resurgent in ONE Championship’s stacked lightweight division, the 28-year-old former ONE Featherweight World Champion wants to give credit where credit is due.

Bout Updates Announced For One: Kings Of Destiny In Manila

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced updates to bouts scheduled for ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY. Team Lakay lightweight veteran Honorio “The Rock” Banario will now take on Jaroslav Jartim of Czech Republic as original opponent Rob Lisita has pulled out of the bout due to personal reasons. In addition, top featherweight prospect Christian “The Warrior” Lee of Singapore will now face Wan Jian Ping of China after Lee’s original opponent Keanu Subba suffered an injury during training camp.

Team Lakay’s Honorio “The Rock” Banario has long been one of the Philippines’ most respected mixed martial arts veterans. His tremendous cage experience has brought him all over Asia, in many memorable battles against top divisional talent. Among his many skills, Banario’s strength lies in striking, although he has recently exhibited a vastly-improved grappling game. The former ONE Featherweight World Champion, Banario is ready to once again showcase his world-class wushu skills and lightning-quick strikes against Jaroslav Jartim.

Prague-based mixed martial artist Jaroslav Jartim of Czech Republic will make his ONE Championship debut at lightweight this April. Jartim sports a professional MMA record of seven wins and five losses including one draw. Of his seven victories, three have come by submission and three by knockout. The Penta Gym Prague representative is set to make his first appearance inside the ONE Championship cage in Manila against Team Lakay veteran lightweight Honorio Banario.

18-year-old Christian “The Warrior” Lee, younger brother of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, began his professional mixed martial arts career on an absolute tear, railing off five straight victories by thrilling finish while only encountering one setback. He has impressed fans with his ability to seek out stoppage wins over top caliber opponents. Known as an unpredictable striker with unorthodox grappling technique, Lee is now set to return to the ONE Championship cage, this time against Wan Jian Ping.

Wan “Werewolf” Jian Ping is a mixed martial artist from China with a 2-1 professional record. Following his promotional debut against countryman Bu Huo You Ga in 2016, Wan makes his return to the ONE Championship cage gunning for victory. The Shanghai-based grappler is well-versed in all forms of combat, from striking to wrestling and will now look to test his skills against rising young featherweight star Christian Lee.

One Championship - Kings of Destiny: A Chance at Redemption - Lisita goes head to head with Banario

Inside the ring of mixed martial arts, Rob “Warrior of God” Lisita is your Man when looking for the true epitome of a gallant warrior inside the cage.

The 34-year-old native of Campbelltown, Australia is known as a relentless offensive force, armed with powerful striking combinations with the intent of scoring highlight-reel finishes.

Lisita is 14-9 as a professional mixed martial artist and has proven to be a fixture in big fights owing to his fan-friendly style.

Lisita made an impact in ONE Championship by easily taking out Japanese rival Yusuke Kawanago with a 28-second knockout in May 2014. With his never-say-die attitude as an MMA athlete, he got the attention of ONE Championship which is regarded as the frontrunner of the sport in the Asian region.

Despite being remembered as a veteran fighter who has faced the best in and around his division, success seems to be elusive when he had four-fight losing skid.

Lisita suffered a second-round submission defeat at the hands of Filipino combatant Eric “The Natural” Kelly in July 2014.

He encountered the same fate in October 2014 when Lisita tasted a first-round submission loss to future ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov by way of rear-naked choke.

It was followed by a six-second knockout setback to Russian lightweight contender Timofey Nastyukhin in May 2016.

A victory under the ONE Championship umbrella remained elusive for Lisita as he fell short to Malaysian-Kiwi sensation Ev “E.T.” Ting via unanimous decision in a thrilling September 2016 lightweight encounter.

Lisita chose not to wallow over his setbacks and to just stay focus to break his  four-fight losing skid. He is looking for redemption at the expense of former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario.

Both men are set to face each other in a three-round lightweight clash on the undercard of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which takes place at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 21 April.

“I am coming to the Philippines to win. I need this win. I can’t lose forever. It feels like I’ve been losing forever already. But this is my chance to prove that there is a light at the end of tunnel. No one stays on the losing side,” Lisita said.

With the ambition to insert his name into the winner's column and regain his status as one of the most exciting fighters in the world, Lisita stressed that his bout against Banario is the perfect match-up to sparkplug his nine-year prizefighting career.

Banario is currently riding high on a three-match winning streak, picking up stellar triumphs over the likes of Vaughn Donayre, Eddie Ng and Rajinder Singh Meena.

“Honorio Banario is a true warrior who never backs down in a fight. This is another war for me. If I want to regain the attention and respect of the whole world, this is the right fight for me. A win over Honorio Banario will put me in the headlines again,” Lisita stated.

Even though winning has shied away from him in his last four fights in ONE Championship, Lisita explained that his love for MMA keeps on luring him back.

“I am continuing my career as an MMA fighter because I love this sport. It keeps me alive. Moreover, this is what I live for. Setbacks don’t matter because I love what I do. That’s why I do it,” he shared.

As he locks horns with the hot-streaking Banario, Lisita remains optimistic that he will have his raised for the first time in three years at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY.

“Buy or reserve a ticket right now because you will witness the resurgence of Rob Lisita. I am coming to Manila wiser and more resolute than ever. See you on April 21st,” he ended.

Honorio Banario Says Renewed Confidence Is Biggest Difference

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario dropped five straight losses following his title-clinching performance over compatriot Eric Kelly in 2013, but has recently turned a new leaf, impressively winning three straight over top flight opponents. A renewed wave of confidence he says is what made a world of difference.

On Friday, 21 April, Banario (11-6) will return to action against tough and durable Australian foe Rob “Ruthless” Lisita (14-9) in a three-round lightweight bout that is being considered an early candidate for Fight of the Night honors.

“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,” said Banario.

By the time Banario had dropped his fifth straight contest, a 56-second submission loss to Ev Ting, the proud Igorot warrior said he had already contemplated surrender and calling it a day. But it was those closest to him -- his family, friends, teammates at the Team Lakay MMA gym, coach Mark Sangiao -- who urged him to fight on.

“I knew it wasn’t over. I had so many fans, true fans, telling me to soldier on and keep fighting and that they still believed in me. Hearing all the words of encouragement, how can you continue to feel down after that?” said Banario.

“Coach Mark [Sangiao] 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,” - Banario added.

Now, Banario has won his last three bouts, the most impressive of which was a first round armbar victory over top Indian lightweight prospect Rajinder Singh Meena last December, in front of his hometown crowd in Manila.

This April however, Banario knows he has his work cut out for him. Lisita is one of the toughest fighters in ONE Championship, regardless of weight class.

“He (Lisita) is the type of fighter who will never give up no matter what. In a way, he’s just like me. It doesn’t matter if he’s tired, beat up or losing a fight. There’s no quit in the man. That’s why they call him ‘Ruthless’,” said Banario.  “But I’m prepared for anything.  I’m ready. I’m happy to fight him because I want to be able to test myself against him. He’s a real fighter.”, he added.

With the success he has enjoyed at this juncture of his career, Banario surprisingly admits that he feels no pressure at all in trying to extend his winning streak. He says that even though Lisita will be the one inside the cage with him, that he’s not worried about the Australian.

“The only person I’m concerned with is myself,” said Banario.  “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,” Banario concluded.

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