Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario: Eduard Folayang’s style is very difficult to deal with

Honorio Banario

Representing Team Lakay, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, 28, and Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, 34, have spent extensive time on the mat together, grinding and learning, growing in unison. Recently, the former talked about the fighting style of the latter.

“Eduard’s style is very difficult to deal with,” Banario said in an interview with ONE Championship. “He has amazing cardio and he will keep the pressure on you and never stop. It’s exhausting to spar with him but perhaps, his greatest strength is his unwavering will to win.”

Banario and Folayang’s careers have taken different trajectories. But their paths always seem to convene on the strength of their work ethic as they pushed each other to the maximum on a daily basis.

“Eduard has no quit in him, no matter who he is up against, or how far behind he is in a fight,” Banario said. “He will never give up and will continue to push forward. I admire his iron will. He’s very strong in the mind, and that’s one of the things I am trying to pick up from him.”

Like other mixed martial artists, Banario was once at the lowest point in his career. In such times, Folayang was one of the strongest voices that told him to keep going.

“He motivated me and gave me hope,” Banario said of Folayang. “He’s like my older brother.”

Folayang is wiser and more experienced than Banario, the latter acknowledged. Banario said, “I learn a lot from him.”

“In training, we push each other to the limit,” Banario added. “And for me personally, it has been great for my development as a martial artist.”

On the other hand, Banario is grateful that he can also teach Folayang and help him with his career. The former referred to the latter as a pioneer in the Philippine martial arts scene.

“He has so much knowledge and experience,” Banario said of Folayang. “I learn so much just training with him.”

On September 8, 2018, Banario will compete in ONE Championship for the 14^th time. In the co-main event of “ONE: Beyond the Horizon” at the Baoshan Sports Center in Shanghai, China, he will compete against Singaporean contender Amir Khan, 23, in the lightweight division.

Watch one of Banario's previous ONE Championship bouts here:

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