Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion Honorio Banario will once again headline ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) as it returns in Manila on May 31 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Dubbed as “Rise to Power,” the Singapore-based MMA promotion in cooperation with Casino Filipino and Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) will also pit current DREAM world bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil against Japanese Keotsu Okazaki for the vacant ONE FC interim bantamweight championship belt.
For the first time, Banario will defend the ONE FC World Featherweight title as he will face Koji Oishi of Japan. Banario, Lakay Wushu’s top fighter, is the first and only Filipino MMA world champion.
“Pinag-aaralan ko ngayon ang mga bagong ground techniques dahil magaling sa ground at sa grappling yung makakalaban ko,” the soft-spoken Banario said in today’s ONE FC Rise to Power press conference at Midas Hotel in Pasay.
“In fighting, you fight against yourself, not your opponent. That is why in facing my next opponent, I’m more concerned in improving my technique and skill,” Fernandes commented.
According to CEO and promoter Victor Cui, ONE FC is currently recognized as the premier MMA promotion in Asia, capturing 600 million viewers in ONE FC: Kings and Champion in Singapore last April 5.
“If UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is the premier promotion in the West, ONE FC represents the East. And for me, personally, the Philippines has the biggest MMA market here in Asia,” the long-time sports promoter said.
For Casino Filipino’s part, marketing manager Chris Tio announced that ONE FC will donate a public school building from its ticket sales and revenues from the ONE FC Bingo game to be held in all Casino Filipino arcades in the Philippines. The main prize in said bingo game is a VIP trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the next ONE FC card.
Meanwhile, URCC founder Alvin Aguilar told Fullcourtfresh.com that URCC’s partnership with ONE FC is the culmination of its 10th year anniversary, proving that URCC is the center of Filipino MMA fighters who have succeeded in the international scene.
