Honorio Banario demonstrated that he’s far from finished in his fighting career, proving he still has plenty left in the tank.
The former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion claimed a silver medal in the 75-kilogram K-1 bracket at the Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024, held from October 6 to 13 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The 35-year-old native of Mankayan, Benguet kicked off his campaign in dominant fashion, showcasing his trademark left hook to stop Cambodian fighter Chheng Leang in the second round, advancing to the quarterfinals.
From there, “The Rock” made short work of India’s Joshi Makarand Vilas, securing a first-round knockout to punch his ticket to the semifinals.
Banario advanced to the finals via a walkover win when Iraqi striker Alhilfawi Wisam Jaafar Abdullah was unable to compete, having been worn down by a grueling match against Pakistan’s Zaib Hasnain.
In the deciding bout, Banario fell short of completing a sweep in his weight category, yielding to Uzbekistan’s Davlatbek Rayimjonov by points.
Despite settling for a bridesmaid finish, this feat could be a catalyst for a resurgence. It’s worth noting that Banario last appeared on the global stage of mixed martial arts in February 2020 when he eked out a split decision against Shannon Wiratchai under the ONE Championship banner.
Since then, the Lions Nation MMA co-founder has shifted his focus to kickboxing, capturing back-to-back bronze medals in the two different editions of the Southeast Asian Games.
Now, he has added the Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024 silver medal to his resume.
Banario wasn’t the only prominent Filipino combat sports athlete to find success in Cambodia.
2024 Paris Olympian Hergie Bacyadan secured gold via an abandonment win in the 70-kilogram K-1 category, while Carlo Bumina-ang triumphed over Kazakhstan’s Alikhan Ozdoev by points to take home the top prize in the 67-kilogram low kick division.
Moreover, Gina Iniong-Araos bagged the 56-kilogram low kick division crown by defeating Indonesia’s Aprilia Eka Putri Lumbantungkup by points.
On the other hand, Claudine Veloso added to the medal haul with a bronze in the 52-kilogram K-1 bracket.
However, it was a tough outing for Filipino fan favorites Jeremy Pacatiw and Jean Claude Saclag, who suffered early exits in their respective weight classes.
Overall, the Philippines put forth a commendable effort in the regional kickboxing tournament, achieving a total of five gold medals, one silver, and 10 bronze medals.
