Tempers flare as Lisita seeks revenge on Kawanago in One FC Manila card

MANILA, Philippines – They may not be in the main event fight, but Rob Lisita versus Yusuke Kawanago looks to be the most exciting match among the three fight cards that were shown to the public on Wednesday as tension rises between the two fighters.

The two are not strangers to each other as they previously fought in Legend Fighting Championship, where Kawanago was able to retain his title with a close unanimous decision finish.

“I think I’m going to teach my opponent. No matter how many times he challenges me, the result will be the same,” said Kawanago. “After our rematch in May, he will be laying down on the floor or maybe on my knees. Rules may have changed, but I’m still going to win.”

Those were the only words needed to tick off Lisita, who now seeks revenge on One FC : Rise of Heroes on May 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“He said he is going to teach me a lesson but I’m going to teach him a lesson, with my fist in his chin and I will get my hands raised,” said Lisita.

His controversial defeat at the hands of Kawanago is obviously still fresh in Lisita’s mind, and the latter vows that this time it will be different and the real winner will surface.

“The first fight, he said he will knock me out. It went on a decision and gifted it to him,” Lisita said. “I really feel that I won that fight but it doesn’t matter and it’s in the past.”

During the face-off,  Kawanago gave Lisita the cold stare with their foreheads bumping each another. Lisita countered by putting his right fist on Kawanago’s left chin. That prompted One FC CEO Victor Cui to separate the two fighters for a few seconds just to get their photos taken by the media. But that didn’t stop the two from pushing each other. Both fighters were breathing heavily like tigers growling at each other and are ready to attack anytime.

Amid the tension, Lisita still managed to talked to Philstar.com about his grudge to Kawanago.

“I guarantee you this. He is going to run from me the whole fight. He doesn’t think he can finish me. He is scared of me.  He told me after the first fight, he ran because he was scared,” said Lisita. “If he is watching me lately, he is more scared now.”

Lisita had been training unorthodoxly by playing soccer and he looks to use soccer kicks as part of his weapons in defeating Kawanago.

“With the One FC rules, if I drop him or take him down, I can kick him in the head. I’m going to give him soccer kicks and knee him once he goes down,” Lisita said. I’m going to use the rules to my advantage and I’m also assuming he would. That is why I’m playing soccer.”

Lisita added that Kawanago started to train at his gym after their match and it was clearly a sign that he acknowledges his fear for him.

“To be honest, we know each other quite well but he doesn’t know me now. We fought each other for three rounds. After that, he trained at my gym in Phuket.” said Lisita. “He said that that he thinks he is better than me in all areas. This is just fear talking. He knows I’m better than him in all areas. We both know very well.”

Focused more than ever, Lisita seeks not to relax and will look forward to charging to Kawanago the moment the bell sounds.

“If you’ve seen me fight, I finish most of my opponents. From the start to the finish, I look for the finish and normally I get it,” Lisita said. “I’m ready to beat him for 15 minutes if I need to. It could be first round or it could be decision. You will never know but I will be trained. I will be ready and I’m better that I’ve ever been. If I was close to last time, he’d better be ready. I’m a different animal now.”

“I’m called Ruthless Rob Lisita, and I’m not called ‘ruthless’ for no reason. I’m going to come forward and I will go at him. I will go at him really aggressive.”