FORMER featherweight titlist Honorio Banario had his hands full against late replacement Rahul Raju, but still escaped with a unanimous decision win in the main card of ONE: Conquest of Champions on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Banario was set to originally face Dae Sung Park but the Korean had to withdraw three days before the fight after failing to get clearance, prompting Raju to step in.
The Indian replacement, however, gave Banario all he can handle as he wore out the Team Lakay standout with his wrestling.
Banario though had all the answers for the brave Raju, connecting on combinations on the feet while scrambling well on the ground.
Banario even had several close attempts to finish the fight by submission, but nothing materialized for him.
The win got Banario back on the winning track as he improved to 14-7 as Raju fell to 4-4.
In the ONE Super Series, Muay Thai champion Saempetch Fairtex beat Russian Alaverdi Ramazanov in their bantamweight bout while Hiroaki Suzki dealt Lithuanian Devididas Danyla a unanimous decison loss in their welterweight muay thai match.
In another MMA bout, James Nakashima scored a unanimous decision victory over Khabib Nurmagomedov's teammate Raimond Mahomedaliev.
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