By Jan Carlo Anolin
Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario started his 2020 campaign right after beating Thai foe Shannon Wiratchai via split decision in the featherweight division of ONE: King of the Jungle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Friday.
Honorio Banario (ONE Championship, file photo)
Banario (15-10) showed his ground game prowess throughout the match and marked his first comeback win in the featherweight bout.
Wiratchai (9-6) connected early with a left knee on Banario’s temple in the first round, but the 30-year-old Team Lakay stalwart retaliated with a takedown at the 1:10 mark while throwing knee strikes to weaken Wiratchai’s body.
The second round proved instrumental for Banario after dominating Wiratchai on top position from the 3:50 mark until the end of the round while exchanging punches.
In the third round, the Team Lakay veteran went on the defensive before taking down Wiratchai twice.
Meanwhile, in the bantamweight lead card, Filipino-Kiwi Mark Fairtex Abelardo (19-7) yielded to American Troy Worthen (7-0) via unanimous decision.
Worthen displayed impressive striking, highlighted by two leg kicks at Abelardo’s temple early in the third round.
The undefeated American landed a solid elbow strike at the 50-second mark while pinning Abelardo against the Circle walls before the Filipino-Kiwi fighter went aggressive at the waning seconds.
The matches were held in a closed-door venue for safety purposes due to the threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Source: Manila Bulletin
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