Aussie MMA veteran express tremendous respect for Team Lakay

Australian veteran mixed martial arts fighter Adrian Pang will have a showdown against former ONE featherweight champion Honorio Banario on April 20. PHOTO BY ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Australia's veteran mixed martial arts fighter Adrian Pang has nothing but praises for Team Lakay ahead of his showdown against former ONE featherweight champion Honorio Banario on the undercard of 'ONE: Heroes of Honor' on April 20 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Pang, 40, knows all too well what it likes to fight a Team Lakay warrior having faced Eduard Folayang inside the cage a couple of years ago.

A veteran of more than 30 professional MMA fights, Pang cites seeing similarities between him and the Filipino fighters.

"Team Lakay is an outstanding camp. I’ve faced Eduard Folayang before he became the ONE Lightweight World Champion," said Pang.

"He was so tough and a gallant competitor. He also has a big heart. Team Lakay fighters compete with their pride and heart. I like this kind of martial artists because I have the same mentality," he added.

Pang also knows that he will be in for a tough fight when he squares off against Banario, who is currently on a four-fight winning streak.

Not focused on getting a shot at the title anytime soon, the Aussie veteran simply wants to showcase a fun contest come fight night.

"He comes forward, he tries to engage standing, grappling, and everything. Let’s hope he does the same thing here, and we will just collide in the middle," Pang said of Banario.

"I know he comes to bring it. That whole team does, so I am definitely excited about it The title is out of the question right now. I just want to give fans a good, exciting contests." — BAP, GMA News