MANILA, Philippines – Australian veteran Adrian "The Hunter" Pang did not receive a warm reception in his past encounter against a Team Lakay standout, but he is still in awe of the grit and determination shown by members of the iconic martial arts camp.

The 40-year-old native of Brisbane, Australia once stood across the ONE Championship cage with former lightweight champion Eduard Folayang. This was way back in August 2016, when they faced off in the co-main event of ONE: Heroes of the World in Macau.

Folayang won by way of unanimous decision, but not before going through a grueling three-round battle with Pang.

"Eduard just kept on firing with strikes from all angles," Pang said of their bout. "He was maintaining his distance, so he could throw his heavy right hand and fancy kicks."

"He was always one step ahead in that bout," he admitted.

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Folayang clearly had the advantage in the stand-up department. He dropped Pang to the canvas twice: first through a spinning backfist in the closing seconds of the first round, and then through a sneaky-but-solid straight right in the early goings of the final frame.

Moreover, Folayang peppered Pang with inside leg kicks, and bombarded the Australian's guard with well-executed spinning back-kicks to the midsection.

Yet despite Folayang's activity, the Filipino star could not finish Pang. The Australian even threatened to steal the match in the third round, establishing top control and pummeling his Filipino foe with elbows and short punches.

"I had my momentum midway of the third round of the fight when I caught him on the ground," recalled Pang. "But he managed to reverse the position."

"He was ready," Pang said of Folayang. "We all knew what happened after our cage meeting. He beat Shinya Aoki and became a champion."

"He was ripe to be in that position.

Even though Pang was unsuccessful against Folayang, he had nothing but admiration for Team Lakay's formula in producing top-notch homegrown talents.

"Team Lakay is an outstanding camp," Pang declared. "I've faced Eduard Folayang before he became the ONE lightweight world champion. 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.

For his next assignment in ONE Championship, Pang will be sharing the cage with another Team Lakay star, as he is tasked to take on former featherweight champion Honorio Banario.

The two are set to collide in the undercard of ONE: Heroes of Honor on April 20 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Suffering from a three-match losing skid, Pang admitted that having his back against the wall adds a bit of sting as he enters a cage duel with the hot-streaking Banario.

"It is funny. I have never lost three in a row in my career, but here we are," he said. "Now, I am facing someone who is on a winning streak."

Banario has been on a roll since moving to the lightweight division, and has won four consecutive matches.

"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. I know he comes to bring it. That whole team does, so I am definitely excited about it," said Pang.

At 40 and with 35 professional bouts, Pangs knows that he has far less time in front of him than what is left behind in his mixed martial arts run.

However, Pang reiterated that it is still too early to call it a career as he looks to put on thrilling matches that will keep fans buzzing.

"I've still got it, I believe. I still feel I can keep doing it against the best. I know I came up short in my last few fights, but I am still hungry. The title is out of the question right now. I just want to give fans a good, exciting contests," he stressed.

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