Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario, Joshua Pacio Join Eduard Folayang In Team Lakay Exodus
Three more Filipino MMA stars have left the world-renowned Team Lakay.
Just 24 hours after former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang announced his departure from the famed Baguio City-based fight team, fellow ex-ONE World Champions Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Honorio “The Rock” Banario have confirmed their exits, too.
Also, it appears former strawweight king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio is joining them.
Belingon, a former ONE Bantamweight World Champion, has been with Team Lakay since kicking off his professional career back in June 2007.
But in a statement posted on his verified Facebook account, the former bantamweight king cited his “need for growth” and continued development as the primary reasons for his departure.
He wrote:
“I would like to make a public statement that I’m no longer with Team Lakay. I had a farewell talk with coach Mark Sangiao and we ended on a good note. Coach, thank you for everything and for understanding my need for growth. With whole sincerity, I wish you all the best in life.
“Leaving the team makes me emotional because it has been my home for the last 16 years. But, at the same time, I look forward for what lies ahead. Fresh start.”
Banario is also looking for a fresh start.
Like Belingon, “The Rock” had been with Team Lakay since he launched his professional MMA career in February 2010, and under head coach Mark Sangiao’s tutelage, he became the first MMA World Champion from the Philippines when he claimed ONE Championship’s inaugural featherweight crown in February 2013.
Now, after taking a three-year break, Banario is looking to resume his career. However, as he mentioned in a statement on his personal Facebook account, he will no longer represent Baguio City’s fabled stable.
Banario wrote:
“I can’t wait to begin my new chapter this 2023, with the future looking bright and still full of opportunities for a proud warrior rooted here in the highlands of the Philippines. Unfortunately, with the start of my new chapter in the world of combat sports, I will no longer be a part of Team Lakay.
“I am more than thankful for every member of Team Lakay whom I trained with every day, especially our coach, Mark Sangiao, who took me under his wing as one of his proteges in the early days, when the mixed martial arts community was still in its baby steps. Team Lakay more than gave me my life. It was everything. The trademark red shorts that we all love to compete in, that we all proudly fought for inside the Circle, will always be one of the best experiences I have in this lifetime.”
Joshua Pacio Has Reportedly Left Team Lakay Too
Despite not making an official statement like his ex-stablemates, it appears former ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio has left Team Lakay as well.
In a comment on Kevin Belingon’s Facebook post, Team Lakay’s head coach Mark Sangiao tagged the former strawweight king on the thread and wished the four well on their martial arts journeys.
Sangiao posted:
“On behalf of Team Lakay and I, wish you all well in your next step. The decision has been made among us and I’m glad we had that final graceful goodbyes talk. God Bless all of us and all the best. Regards to your Manong Eduard “The Landslide” Folayang, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, and Ading Joshua Felix Pacio.”
