Banario, Fernandes to headline ONE FC: Rise to Power

ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) will make their return trip to the Philippines on May 31. After staging ONE FC: Pride of a Nation last August, Asia's premiere mixed martial arts company returns to the country featuring two of the top fights. The ONE FC: Rise to Power card will feature the highly anticipated first title defense of hometown hero ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario. The Filipino will put it all on the line when he takes on Japanese submission specialist Koji Oishi, after he won the title with a victory over fellow Filipino Eric Kelly last February. Brazilian fighter Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes returns to the famed ONE FC cage when he squares off against Japanese MMA sensation Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title. The event will take place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. ^{-- Photos by Roehl Niño Bautista, GMA News} CEO of ONE Fighting Championship Victor Cui stated, “ONE FC will be back in the fight capital of Asia on 31 May with a stacked fight card that is sure to get the adrenaline pumping for the passionate Filipino fight fans. This event could possibly be the largest in ONE FC’s history and features the top names in MMA, headlined by ONE FC Featherweight World Champion Honorio Banario." Banario, who comes from a Wushu background, is one of the top MMA fighters in the Asia. He is a member of the legendary Team Lakay, where he trains alongside fellow ONE FC fighters Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon under head coach Mark Sangiao. Despite his striking credentials, five of Banario’s eight wins were by submission, proving how versatile he really is. Banario captured the ONE FC crown when he defied all odds by defeating his fellow countryman Eric Kelly at ONE FC: Return of Warriors via TKO. Banario will be looking to hold on to his title, when he battles the ever-so-tough submission specialist from Japan, Koji Oishi. Koji Oishi is a 35-year-old Japanese mixed martial arts veteran and former Lightweight King of Pancrase. He comes from a wrestling and karate background and is renowned for leaving everything on the line in brawls against some of the best in the business, including Chris Lytle, Carlos Condit and both of the Diaz brothers. ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion Soo Chul Kim is currently undergoing shoulder surgery and will be out of action for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, ONE FC officials have decided that an interim ONE FC Bantamweight World Championship title will be introduced until Kim is ready to make a comeback. Fernandes is undeniably one of the best fighters in the world today. His never-empty gas tank, explosive take-downs and lighting-fast strikes have garnered him a huge fan base amongst Asian and international fans alike. A veteran who has fought countless Japanese fighters, Fernandes made his ONE FC debut in August 2012 at ONE FC: Pride of a Nation, where he defeated journeyman Gustavo Falciroli via unanimous decision. He will have his toughest test yet however, when he battles Japanese sensation Koetsu Okazaki. Okazaki is the latest top Japanese fighter to sign for ONE FC and is one of the most experienced fighters in the entire bantamweight division. A tenacious competitor known to never back down from any opponent, Okazaki specializes in submissions but he is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone if that is what it takes to get the win. And Okazaki will definitely be shooting for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title, knowing that would give him the global recognition that he deserves. - AMD, GMA News