Ang dating ONE Featherweight World Champion, Honorio “The Rock” Banario ay nakatakdang makaharap si Russian knockout artist Timofey Nastyukhin sa ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix semifinals at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES sa Agosto 2, Biyernes.

“I changed my diet because I want to go back to my younger days where I was faster, I had very good stamina, and I was generally leaner,” sabi ni Banario, na pinalitan ang injured na si Lowen Tynanes sa World Grand Prix.

“I am controlling my sugar and watching my intake for food with high cholesterol so everything that I eat, I get to burn during training.”

Marami siyang makukuhang payo sa dating ONE Lightweight World Champion na si Eduard “Landslide” Folayang na nakalaban na dati ang Russian noong Disyembre 2014.

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Folayang fell victim to the Russian’s devastating striking, as the Filipino martial arts hero was on the receiving end of a crushing knee, which knocked him out cold.

Napatumba si Folayang dati ni Nastyukhin pero nakabangon din agad sa pagkatalo at ngayo’y ibinabahagi ang kanyang nalalaman sa kay Banario.

“Eduard keeps on telling me to watch out for his punches because when he punches, he gives it his all, but when you avoid it, he somewhat becomes out of balance,” pahayag ni Banario.

“In wrestling, maybe that’s where I can match him. He’s explosive, so it’s something that I am looking at because I know we’re both strikers.”

Mahirap man para kay Banario ang laban na ito ay kailangan niyang magkaroon ng kumpiyansa sa sarili at maniwalang malalamangan niya si Nastyukhin.

“I am working on my striking and adding on my power, while practicing my grappling as well,” he said.

“We have a well-rounded training program in preparation for this, so that come event night, I’ll be very confident because I am in the best shape of my life.”