Featherweight king Honorio “The Rock” Banario hopes to show he’s in superb shape when he stakes his title tonight against challenger Koji Oishi of Japan in the One FC: Rise to Power at Mall of Asia Arena.
Oishi, who will turn 36 today, is a master in ground combat, having fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship apart from an illustrious stint in Pancrase, the biggest MMA promotion in Japan.
“He (Oishi) has no real weakness but I will do my best to find a way to beat him wherever the fight goes,” said the 23-year-old Banario, who wrested the title from Team Lakay fighter Eric Kelly three months ago in Kuala Lumpur.
In the bantamweight grand prix finals, URCC flyweight champion Kevin Belingon faces Japan’s Masakatsu Ueda. The other undercard bouts feature MMA veteran Tim Sylvia against Tony Johnson, fan favorite Ryan Diaz opposite Russian ace Yusup Saadulaev and up and coming Lowen Tynanes battling it out against Felipe Enomoto.