Andrew Pamorada | FCF
After losing his world featherweight belt in front of his countrymen last May, Honorio Banario gets a shot at regaining the title on home soil.
On Thursday, ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) announced that “The Rock” Banario will get his rematch against Japanese fighter Koji Oishi in the main event of the year-ending Moment Of Truth card at the Mall of Asia Arena on December 6.
Oishi (24-9-10), a Pancrase Hybrid Wrestler, knocked out the Benguet province native via a blunt punch to the jaw early in the second round to gain the belt in the featured bout of Rise To Power.
Fellow Filipino combatants also seeing action are Team Lakay Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) stablemates Edward Folayang and Geje Eustaquio, who both suffered defeats in the Rise To Power undercard, together with the ONE FC debut of Filipina MMA fighter Jujeath Nagaowa.
Folayang (12-4), a former school teacher who won the Wushu silver during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, dropped his last two matches, including a unanimous decision loss against Iranian Kamal Shalorus (8-3-2). On the other hand, Eustaquio (3-2) succumbed in his last fight to Phuket Top Team’s Andrew Leone (7-2) via judge’s decision.
Meanwhile, Nagaowa will become the first-ever female Filipino combatant in the ONE FC ring in the undercard of the promotion’s third event in the country, as the former WBC Asia Atomweight Champion aims to makes her successful transition from boxing to MMA.
RELATED: Oishi cracks Banario to snatch ONE FC featherweight crown
Andrew Pamorada | FCF
Banario, who paid dearly for underestimating and letting his guard down on his Japanese foe, has realized and learned from the mistakes he made in their last encounter.
“Sa first round, kitang kita ko na kayang-kaya ko siya. Kaya nung second round, nag-rush ako. Di ako nag-ingat. Pero kayang-kaya ko naman siya. (In the first round, I saw that I could handle him. That’s why in the second round, I rushed. I was careless. But I know that I could beat him.),” recalled the 23-year old fighter of the fateful match to Fullcourtfresh.com.
“Wala akong pasensya, talagang nag-rush ako kaya nagkakamali. Hindi ako nag-caution. (I did not have patience, I really rushed that’s why I made a big mistake. I didn’t exercise caution.)”
He revealed that his camp has been thoroughly targeted on his boxing defense, a crack in Banario’s armor which led to Oishi’s sensational victory via strikes.
Tickets for the event may be bought right now through SM Tickets booths and their online outlet at www.smtickets.com, with prices ranging from Php220 (General Admission) to Php6,360 (Red Carpet and Cage Side VIP).
RELATED: ONE FC: Rise To Power photos
