Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Things haven’t been going Honorio Banario’s way.
The former ONE Featherweight World Champion has suffered a remarkable fall from grace, dropping his last five fights in the cage.
But the 26-year-old Banario isn’t ready to throw in the towel and is looking to finally get back on the winning trail when he takes on fellow countryman Vaughn Donayre in ONE: Global Rivals.
“I want to win,” said Banario. “I will start again now. I have to start from the bottom.”
Banario is moving up to the lightweight division for his bout against Donayre, but he said that the fact that he does not have to cut weight will help him get the victory.
“I am very powerful and more skilled in this (lightweight) division,” he said.
Banario is not the only fighter seeking redemption, as Filipino featherweight Eric Kelly is also hunting for a victory after being choked out in his last foray into the cage.
Kelly will look to bounce back when he foes up against Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin in the same fight card.
At 33, Kelly knows that injuries at this stage of his career could be detrimental in the long run. But the veteran fighter sees that to avoid any untoward incidents, he just needs to get better.
“(Kailangan) madadagdagan pa ‘yung knowledge (in the cage),” said Kelly. “I need to improve my striking and my ground game.”
[Translation: “I need to increase my knowledge in the cage,” said Kelly. “I need to improve my striking and ground game.”]
Both Kelly and Banario will look to notch victories when they compete in ONE: Global Rivals on April 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
