Despite Dave Banguingui’s recent loss against Sanzhar Zakirov in ONE Friday Fights 28, thew Fight Corps MMA standout remains resilient and determined to learn and improve further his skills.
The clash between Banguingui and Zakirov was a thrilling spectacle, one that had fans on the edge of their seats. Both fighters displayed incredible skill and tenacity, but in the end, it was Zakirov who emerged victorious.
While defeat is undoubtedly tough to swallow, Banguingui views this setback as an invaluable opportunity to further refine his MMA skills.
“Mas aggressive siguro yung training na kailangan natin in the near future,” Banguigui said.Banguingui, a natural flyweight, was supposed to fight a Chinese fighter, but due to unforeseen circumstances, a taller and heavier Zakirov was called in as a replacement fighter.
“Iba yung naging game plan natin against the Chinese fighter kaya nung nagkaroon ng changes, hindi na tayo naka pag adjust ng game plan,” added Banguigui.
Banguingui made his ONE debut in June 2019 scoring an impressive second round knockout against Susovan Ghosh then followed it up with another submission victory against Alber Correia Da Silva in August 2019.
With the pandemic hitting the world in 2020, Banguingui’s dream of earning a contract with ONE was halted.
But the Bauko, Mt. Province native came back after a three – year hiatus scoring an impressive unanimous decision win against Marcus Paulo Amaral in April this year before falling to Zakirov.Rather than dwelling on the defeat, Banguingui chooses to focus on the lessons he can extract from the experience.
“I’m not discouraged by the loss,” Banguingui states with a resolute tone. “Every fight, win or lose, teaches you something new about yourself and your craft. This loss is just another chapter in my journey, and I’m more motivated than ever to come back stronger.”
But one thing is certain: Banguingui is not one to back down from a challenge.
His resolve to see action in ONE Championship again demonstrates his commitment to reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Banguingui also assured fight fans can expect to see him back in the cage sooner rather than later, eager to showcase the improvements he’s made in his game. Roderick Osis