‘Timing Will Be Key’ – Joshua Pacio Breaks Down World Champion Vs. World Champion Matchup With Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE 173
ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio will be looking to make history for the Philippines when he steps inside the Circle on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
There, the Lions Nation MMA superstar will attempt to become the first Filipino two-division titleholder ever by challenging newly crowned ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu for his gold at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri.
Throughout Pacio’s decorated tenure as the strawweight king, the 29-year-old has experienced the highs and lows at the peak level of competition. There’s not an obstacle in his career that he has failed to overcome, and each time he faltered, the Baguio City native came back stronger.
That resilience reached its peak this past February at ONE 171, where the Filipino dismantled longtime rival Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks in a trilogy match to unify the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title. That victory cemented Pacio’s legacy as the greatest 125-pound MMA fighter in the promotion’s history.
Against Wakamatsu, however, Pacio will be breaking new ground. The Filipino’s path to two-division glory runs through one of the most dangerous flyweights in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Wakamatsu first burst onto the scene as a raw knockout artist with explosive power. Pundits saw the Japanese veteran as talented but lacking polish. It wasn’t until recently that “Little Piranha” was able to put it all together.
After falling to legends Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes early in his career, Wakamatsu embarked on a journey to rebuild himself into a complete martial artist.
It all came to fruition at ONE 172 this past March, where he shocked the world by scoring a first-round TKO of Moraes to capture the vacant flyweight MMA crown.
All the while, Pacio watched Wakamatsu’s rise closely, and recognized similarities in the Japanese veteran’s path to the division’s throne:
“I witnessed Yuya’s development as an athlete, from when he first started in ONE up to now. He’s a champion for a reason. He’s very well-rounded.
“I see myself in him. We have similar career trajectories. He’s had losses before, then he went back to the drawing board. He reviewed his weaknesses and got back up. He’s always learning from his mistakes.”
While Pacio has the utmost respect for Wakamatsu, the Filipino says that won’t matter once the Circle door closes.
Wakamatsu may have transformed himself into an absolute force, but he’s never been tested in the championship rounds — where Pacio believes he has the upper hand.
“The Passion” has thrived in that territory for years, battling through five-round wars against the best of the best at strawweight. He’s developed a system on how to best manage his energy, push through fatigue, and outlast his opponents.
Pacio believes that Wakamatsu is unproven in those depths and he plans to drown him there:
“I’ve been fighting five-round fights since 2018. Wakamatsu has yet to compete in championship rounds. That’s my biggest advantage if this fight reaches the championship rounds.
“I wouldn’t say that he would fade, but I believe my experience allows me to sustain my energy levels in long fights.”
On the feet, it’s Wakamatsu’s world. He’s a calculated finisher who carries concussive knockout potential with every strike.
But Pacio won’t be willing to play that game. The Filipino’s wushu background gives him the striking foundation to hold his own in heated exchanges, but his grappling could prove to once again be his best weapon.
The Lions Nation MMA representative said:
“The fight will always start on the feet. But if I get the opportunity to take him down, I’ll take it. We’re really planning to mix things up. I understand he’s a really strong striker.
“Timing will be key for this one. I have to be on the lookout for his strikes to set up my takedowns. I can’t be one-dimensional.”
Pacio Embraces Underdog Role In Hostile Territory
Joshua Pacio has spent the majority of his career fending off treacherous predators across his multiple World Title reigns, and he knows what is required to defend the gold. But this time, the roles are reversed.
Now he’s chasing another man’s gold, and on foreign soil. Pacio understands that the odds are stacked against him, but he’s hungry to make history:
“Yes, I’ve been the strawweight champion for a long time, but my mentality has always been the same. I always enter all my fights thinking I’m the challenger. That has always been my mindset, and it has served me well.”
At ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, Pacio’s resolve will be tested. He’ll be fighting Wakamatsu before a roaring Japanese crowd that will be supporting their hometown hero.
The last time “Little Piranha” competed on Japanese soil, he delivered a career-defining knockout that made him a World Champion. The atmosphere at Ariake Arena will be electric.
But Pacio always brings out his best when the odds are stacked against him. When the moment to make history arrives, nothing else will exist.
“The Passion” declared:
“I’ve been doing this for so long, I’m not fazed by that anymore. I don’t really feel at a disadvantage when fighting in my enemy’s hometown. I will just go out there and do what God has put me out to do.
“We’re going to Japan to win. I see myself getting my hand raised by the end of the night. If the knockout won’t come, it’ll probably be by unanimous decision or submission.”
