PASAY--Honorio Banario bounced back from his stinging defeat against Amir Khan last September with a victory over India's Rahul Raju at One: Conquest of Champions at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night.
Banario survived Raju's ground game and even came close to a submission in some occasions before taking the unanimous decision win.
Banario delivered the crisper strikes on Raju in Round 1, but it was his newfound brilliance on the ground that made the difference in the last two rounds.
Banario got out easily of Raju's early Round 2 takedown, and, after some more strikes, got two chances at submitting Raju via armbar that the latter survived.
Raju got another chance at turning the tides early into Round 3 as he scored another quick takedown on Banario.
However, Banario once again got out of the takedown and even delivered a rear naked choke on Raju only that the latter was just saved by the bell.
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