Kevin Belingon and Honorio Banario continued Team Lakay’s amazing night, while Christian Lee bounced back from the first defeat of his career.
Belingon avenges Eustaquio’s loss
Entering this bout, Kevin Belingon (15-5) had vengeance on his mind, as Toni Tauru (11-5-1) had defeated his teammate Geje Eustaquio during Age of Domination. Fighting like a man possessed, Belingon was able to make his Finnish opponent quit in just the very first round.
This is the Silencer’s second straight win, and he was able to take home a Predator laptop that is worth Php 500,000.
Right from the get-go, the 29-year-old was the aggressor, hounding Tauru wherever he went.
Throwing crisp jabs and overhands, Belingon was able to bloody Tauru midway through the first round. Once he saw this, he unleashed a fury. A huge right knocked down Tauru and one more solid punch made him verbally tap out.
Banario’s resurgence continues
With both fighters sporting three-fight winning streaks, one man’s joy led to the other’s demise. And when the dust had settled, it was Honorio Banario’s (11-6) hands raised up high, as he had knocked out Jaroslav Jartim (8-6-1) with a highlight-reel KO in the second round.
The win is Honorio Banario’s fourth straight victory, and he stays undefeated in the lightweight division. But the finish was not what the fighter called “The Rock” predicted.
“My game plan was to show that we are capable of submitting our opponents but things happen. Instead of implementing my game plan, my hands connected,” the 27-year-old shared.
It seemed that a submission was on the way for Banario, as he looked for the take-down for the majority of the contest.
After converting on another take-down to open the second round, Jartim was able to get back up. However, as the Czech was throwing a right leg kick, Banario threw a body punch-left hook combination, with the latter landing squarely on his opponent’s jaw for the knockout win.
“Whenever I train my fitness, I always do boxing. It became more refined and my punches kept getting stronger and stronger,” Banario quipped.
“I would like to thank all of you here. I would like to thank my opponent for taking this fight under short notice.”
And after experiencing the darkest moments of his career two years ago, it’s safe to say that he has fully recovered.
Christian Lee bounces back
After suffering the first defeat of his career last August, Christian Lee (6-1) was able to bounce back with an emphatic first-round stoppage of Chinese fighter Wan Jian Ping (3-3). And what made this victory sweeter was that it happened in the place where it all began for him.
Wan, who had replaced Keanu Subba two weeks before the fight, gladly exchanged blows with the standout of Evolve MMA. However, a take-down by the 18-year-old Singaporean led to him gaining control.
And once he was able to lock in, the younger brother of Angela Lee poured in huge elbows. When Wan turtled up, he turned the elbows into punches, forcing the referee to stop the bout.
ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny Results
April 21, 2017 – SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City
Bantamweight bout: Kevin Belingon def. Toni Tauru via verbal tapout (Strikes), Rd 1 2:29
Lightweight bout: Honorio Banario def. Jaroslav Jartim via KO (Left hook), Rd 2 1:31
Featherweight bout: Christian Lee def. Wan Jian Ping via referee’s stoppage (Strikes), Rd 1 4:15
