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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Joshua Pacio wary of stacked strawweight division, remains ready to defend title

Joshua Pacio wary of stacked strawweight division, remains ready to defend title

Published Jul 1, 2021 03:20 pm

ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio is well-aware of the position he's in given the top contenders in his stacked division.

Joshua Pacio (right) unloads a right uppercut to Alex Silva in this file photo. (ONE Championship)

But this only serves as an additional motivation to remain locked and loaded with his mission to defend the strawweight belt once more.

"The strawweight division is very stacked right now with the finest strawweight athletes in the world," said the 25-year-old Pacio, who holds a 19-3 record. "I watch their bouts and I continue to learn from them. I know for sure that I need to continuously level up because I can't stay idle. But that's a challenge I'm enjoying."

The Team Lakay stalwart, one of the leaders of its "next generation," has not fought since scoring a split decision win against former world champion Alex Silva at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last January 2020.

READ: Team Lakay coach: Watch out for our new generation

It was his second title defense since submitting compatriot Rene Catalan with a second-round triangle choke last November 2019.

With almost a year and a half of hiatus in the Circle, Pacio has no choice but to continue training in Benguet, vowing to showcase a different side of "The Passion" come his much-awaited comeback.

"I'm super motivated to get back and defend our title, especially that my other teammates have joined ONE Championship already. I’m very happy for them and for us, and you will see the next generation of Team Lakay athletes come in full force," said Pacio, who remains the only Filipino titleholder in ONE Championship.

READ: Pacio downplays being labeled as 'new face of PH MMA'

Meanwhile, Pacio reiterated his desire to arrange a trilogy with Japanese rival Yosuke Saruta.

Now a two-time strawweight champion, Pacio first captured the belt after dethroning Yoshitaka Naito of Japan in September 2018 but lost it months later against Saruta in January 2019.

READ: Pacio renews desire for Saruta trilogy

The Team Lakay champion came back with a knockout win over Saruta in April 2019 to reclaim the strawweight title.

Completing the strawweight division today are Pacio, Saruta (No. 1), Naito (No. 2), Bokang Masunyane (No. 3), Hiroba Minowa (No. 4), and Silva (No. 5).

READ: Joshua Pacio unfazed despite being the lone Filipino MMA champion

Related Tags

Team Lakay Joshua Pacio ONE Championship
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