Team Lakay is known for producing several ONE Championship champions including “Landslide” Eduard Folayang, 39, “The Silencer” Kevin Belingon, 35, “The Rock” Honorio Banario, 33, and “The Passion” Joshua Pacio, 27. Founded by Mark Sangiao, the mixed martial arts team is based in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines.

Recently, Folayang, Belingon, Banario and Pacio took to social media to announce their departure from Team Lakay. Pacio expressed his desire to reclaim the ONE Strawweight World Championship title.

In Belingon’s statement, he emphasized that he is still an active ONE Championship athlete. On the other hand, neither Folayang nor Banario clarified whether or not they will continue to compete in the martial arts organization based in Singapore.

Honorio Banario

On February 2, 2013, Banario became the ONE Featherweight World Champion, making him the first ever homegrown Filipino fighter to win a world championship title in MMA. On May 31, 2013, he lost the title to Koji Oishi.

Banario’s most recent fight was on February 28, 2020 at “ONE: King of the Jungle” in Singapore where he defeated Shannon Wiratchai via split decision. The victory improved Banario’s professional MMA record to 15 wins and 10 losses.

“The path I am about to take is uncertain but I know in my heart that it will pay off since I will be bringing the pride, the joy and the training imbibed in me by Team Lakay wherever I go,” Banario stated. “I’m excited for the opportunities that have opened up.”

Kevin Belingon

Belingon became the interim ONE Bantamweight World Champion on July 27, 2018 and reigned as the ONE Bantamweight World Champion from November 9, 2018 to March 31, 2019. In his five most recent fights, he lost to Bibiano Fernandes twice, John Lineker, Kwon Won Il and Kim Jae Woong.

Currently, Belingon holds a professional MMA record of 20 wins and 10 losses. He stated, “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 to what lies ahead.”

“(This is a) fresh start,” Belingon continued. “My decision to leave the team comes only from my own personal desire to cultivate my skills.”

Eduard Folayang

Folayang was the ONE Lightweight Champion from November 11, 2016 to November 10 2017 and from November 23, 2018 to March 31, 2019. He stated, “I believe there are still a few things I must accomplish in what remains in my active years as an athlete.”

“The profession I have chosen requires me to learn, evolve and grow,” Folayang continued. “In order for me to achieve this, I must step out of my comfort zone and discover new ways to foster my development as a martial artist.”

Currently, Folayang holds a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 13 losses. He lost to his five most recent opponents namely Pieter Buist, Antonio Caruso, Shinya Aoki, Zhang Lipeng and Edson Marques.

Joshua Pacio

On December 14, 2014, Pacio made his professional MMA debut. In his ONE Championship debut on April 15, 2016, he defeated his fellow Filipino fighter Rabin Catalan via technical knockout in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Pacio was the ONE Strawweight World Champion from September 22, 2018 to January 19, 2019 and from April 12, 2019 to December 3, 2022. In ONE Championship, he fought Yoshitaka Naito twice and Yosuke Saruta three times.

On December 3, 2022, Pacio lost the ONE Strawweight World Championship title after losing to Jarred Brooks via unanimous decision in Pasay City. The loss downgraded Pacio’s professional MMA record to 20 wins and 4 losses.

“In my quest to better myself and reclaim the belt that was once mine, I have decided that moving out of the fabled stable that gave Filipino fight fans much to cheer for inside the (ONE Championship) circle is the path that I have to take,” Pacio stated. “I believe that stepping out of my comfort zone is the way to level up my overall skills in the world of combat sports.”