ONE FC 13's Honorio Banario seeks redeeming performance in rematch with Koji Oishi

Former ONE FC featherweight champion Honorio Banario is genuinely bothered by the result of his first fight with Koji Oishi.

Back in May at ONE FC 9, Oishi (24-9-10) came from the heels of defeat to knock Banario (8-2) out cold and take the promotion’s 145-pound title. It was a jarring loss for Banario, who had never been knocked out before, particularly due to the fact he had nearly finished Oishi with strikes just minutes before being stopped himself.

Banario knows he is capable of finding success against the veteran Oishi, so when the rematch takes place at ONE FC 13 this Friday in Manila, Phillippes, the 24-year-old hopes to finish what he started.

“I’m going to knock him out and finish the fight,” Banario told MMAjunkie. “I want to finish it early in the fight this time for the knockout or fight of the night.”

Seeing as victory was within his grasps in the first meeting, Banario is aware only some minor tweaks must be made to alter the result of the rematch. Banario feels he was overly aggressive in the first fight, and that’s what provided Oishi with the opening to score the knockout.

While viewers shouldn’t expect a cautious Banario, the fighter admits he intends to implement a more tactical game plan the second time around.

“The first time I hurt him, but I did not finish him in the first round,” Banario said. “In the second round I fought stupid and he beat me. This time I will fight wisely and get the victory.”

What made the defeat all the more devastating for Banario is the fact he lost his championship belt – a belt he had won several months before and grown increasingly attached too. Losing the belt still digs away at Banario on the inside, and he believes the absence of his championship represents how poorly he performance on that summer night.

“I’m very sad because the people did not see me at my best,” Banario said. “Last time we met, I wasn’t very focused. This time that is very different, and I expect to win.”

The upside of losing his title to Oishi is the fact Banario learned how much the title meant to him. Moreover, he’ll get the chance to display his championship spirit and resiliency as he returns to take what he once owned.

Never before has a fighter captured a ONE FC belt on two separate occasions, and Banario will have the opportunity to become the first. That would be a milestone achievement for Banario and he knows that a victory would go a long way in bringing him the gratification of redemption.

“[Fighting for the belt] is a big deal for my career,” Banario said. “It means more big fights for my future, so I am very lucky to fight again for the belt.”

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