ONE FC featherweight champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario will look to defend his title against Japanese veteran Koji Oishi on May 31, 2013, in the main event of ONE FC 9.
Additionally, former DREAM multi-division champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes will be on the hunt for another belt, as he takes on Japanese striker Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC interim bantamweight title in the night’s co-main event.
ONE FC 9 takes place at the 20,000-seat Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Promotion officials announced the bookings on Wednesday.
Banario (8-1), the reigning ONE FC featherweight champion and URCC lightweight champion, has racked up a 2-1 record under the ONE FC banner, culminating in a fourth-round TKO victory over Eric Kelly to claim the inaugural featherweight strap. The 23-year-old Filipino has finished all eight of his victories, knocking out three of his opponents and submitting five.
He now takes on Oishi (23-9-10), a longtime veteran of the sport looking to make his ONE FC debut. Curiously enough, Oishi starting his career in the UFC, losing via majority decision to LaVerne Clark at UFC 25. He later returned to the Octagon to fight Nick Diaz at UFC 53, losing once again, this time via first-round knockout.
Outside of his two UFC forays, the 35-year-old Oishi has fought mainly for Pancrase, beating the likes of Chris Lytle and Nate Diaz over his time in the promotion.
With ONE FC bantamweight champion Soo Chul Kim sidelined indefinitely due to shoulder surgery, high-profile signee Fernandes (13-3) will now get his shot at the interim title. The Brazilian rides a five-fight win streak into the match, having notably outpointed Gustavo Falciroli for his ONE FC debut in mid-2012.
He’ll square off against Okazaki (8-2-1), a 33-year-old veteran of Shooto. Okazaki has been out of action since tapping out to a third-round rear-naked choke at the hands of Hiromasa Ogikubo on May 18, 2012.