Banario Kontra Aoki, abangan sa One Century

Magbabakbakan ang dalawang dating world champions sa ONE: Century part 2 na sina dating ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario kontra dating ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki sa the Ryôgoku Kokugikan sa Tokyo, Japan sa Oktubre 13.

Nakasagupa ng dalawang beses ni Eduard Folayang si Aoki at alam niya kung gaano kahirap ang haharapin ni Banario. Naka-technical win si Folayang kontra Aoki sa One: Defending Honor sa 3rd round at naging ONE Lightweight World Champion. Nag-rematch ang dalawa sa New Era pero nagapi ni Aoki sa arm-triangle choke sa first round si Folayang at kunin ang titulo.

Sa karanasang sinuong ni Folayang, handa siyang tulungan sa training si Banario. Pawang galing sa submission ang mga panalo ni Aoki habang ang karamihan sa talo ni Aoki ay galing sa knockouts. Kaya naman mas pinalakas ni Banario ang husay sa suntukan. “Honorio knows how dangerous Shinya is on the ground,” saad ni Folayang. “We worked together on his takedown defense, escaping from holds, the movement inside the cage, and reminding him not to commit any mistakes as much as possible. We know that he has been knocked out several times before and I think that is his weakness. Honorio’s striking is superior compared to Shinya, so we told him to keep his distance and time his strikes. As his partner in the lightweight division, I am doing what I can to help him out, but he is doing very well in training.”

Maraming ups and downs ang 2019 ni Banario. Napatalsik siya sa ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals ni Lowen Tynanes sa ONE: Hero’s Ascent. Nag-asawa noong Abril. Nakasama niya sa ONE: Dawn of Heroes sina Folayang, Edward Kelly, Geje Eustaquio at Danny Kingad pero natalo kay Dae Sung Park.