Joshua Pacio, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario also announce Team Lakay exit

The Philippines’ Team Lakay is currently experiencing a mass exodus of its top fighters.

24 hours removed from Eduard Folayang’s announcement that he was leaving the Baguio City-based fight team, three more former ONE world champions are walking away, including Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon, and Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio.

Belingon, a former ONE bantamweight world champion, posted an emotional message on social media confirming his departure from the gym he’s called home ever since turning pro in 2007:

“I would like to make a public statement that I’m no longer with Team Lakay,” Belingon stated. “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.”

Honorio Banario, who was the inaugural ONE featherweight world champion, has not seen action in the Circle recently, but when ‘The Rock’ is finally ready to return, he confirmed that he would do so without the gym he has called home for more than a decade:

“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.”

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Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao addressed the departure of multiple athletes

Team Lakay’s head coach Mark Sangiao addressed the departure of multiple athletes from the fabled gym and in the process, confirmed that former ONE strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio would be following Folayang, Belingon, and Banario’s exits:

“On behalf of Team Lakay and I, wish you all well in your next step,” Sangiao posted in response to Kevin Belingon’s initial announcement. “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.”

Many of the gym's departing fighters have struggled to get into the win column as of late, most notably Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon. Overall, the four men walking away are a combined 66-35 in mixed martial arts competitions, with Joshua Pacio being the most successful as of late, boasting a 20-4 record.

‘The Passion’ is coming off a loss to ‘The Monkey God’ Jarred Brooks at ONE 164 in December, surrendering his ONE strawweight world title in the process.