As the relatively young sport of mixed martial arts constantly changes and evolves, it is imperative that the combatants follow suit. Filipino fighter Honorio “The Rock” Banario returns to the ONE Championship cage on 21 April at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, and he’ll be hoping to showcase his own continuing evolution in front of a partisan crowd.
He’ll meet tough-as-nails Australian Rob Lisita at the Mall of Asia Arena in the capital of Manila, with a three-fight win streak in hand and a run of form that is even more impressive when you consider the backstory.
Banario started out his MMA journey in perfect fashion, amassing an unbeaten record of 6-0 to punch his ticket to the ONE Championship roster. Within just three fights, he was the inaugural ONE Featherweight World Champion, and it seemed a star was born.
However, the Team Lakay star then went three years without tasting victory, dropping five straight bouts, albeit against consistently stiff competition. They say it’s tough at the top, but it’s even tougher when you’re falling from it. The true measure of a champion is how they react to such difficulties; very few could turn it around like “The Rock”.
With that much disappointment, many would have called it quits. Others might have tried again one more time, but come up short whilst low on confidence and momentum. The Filipino warrior decided to dissect his training regime and performances to find out what was stopping him from delivering on the promise he showed early on in his career. Since pinpointing the issue, the results have been overwhelmingly positive.
“I felt that I was cutting too much weight. That was the issue,” said Banario. “In training, I am very strong, but when I cut weight, my energy and strength drop down to fifty per cent. My reactions and mental instincts are not one hundred per cent.”
When you’re a world champion and the best challengers are lining up for the crown, 50 per cent is not even close to good enough. Without the awareness and modesty to question your own methods, you can be stuck in a rut that never ends.
Banario was able to answer the questions, and can now put himself amongst the elite in his newfound home in the lightweight division. He is further aided by ONE’s adjusted weight classes, and regulations that ban weight cutting by dehydration.
“As a martial artist, it is very important to re-create myself,” he offers.
Banario fell down five times but got up six. That’s a testament to his tremendous heart and strength of character. Each time he got up again, he learnt a lesson, further proving his intelligence as a martial artist. Equipped with these traits, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in the ONE Championship lightweight division for a long time yet.
There’s one sticking point that will keep him from the title though, as his teammate and friend Eduard Folayang is the current ONE Lightweight World Champion. The Mankayan native is content with simply taking control of his own progress for now, at least until the circumstances change to allow him to challenge for championship belts once again.
“I am just focused on improving myself and getting a lot of experience before getting the title.”
It’s been a crazy ride, but as long as progress is being made then the journey is worth it. Banario’s aim is to display to the world his latest evolution on 21 April in Manila.
