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Group Lakay might have skilled some adversity in 2021, however ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Ardour” Pacio continued to be the brightest star within the famed Filipino secure.
The Baguio Metropolis-based combined martial artist solely competed as soon as this 12 months, however he made essentially the most of that look, knocking out longtime foe Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta within the first spherical of their World Title trilogy battle in September.
With that rivalry formally within the rearview mirror, Pacio is now going through a bunch of recent contenders who’re desperate to get their crack on the 25-year-old divisional kingpin.
Prime-ranked Bokang “Little Large” Masunyane is undefeated and coming off a shocking 37-second knockout victory, #3-ranked Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks not too long ago completed Pacio’s Group Lakay stablemate and beforehand ranked Lito “Thunder Child” Adiwang, and #4-ranked Hiroba Minowa holds determination wins over Adiwang and #5-ranked Alex “Little Rock” Silva.
From the appears to be like of it, Pacio may have a busy 2022. On this unique interview, the Filipino dynamo relives his victory over Saruta, shares his ideas on the following wave of hungry contenders, talks about overcoming COVID-19, and appears forward to 2022.
ONE Championship: You solely fought as soon as this 12 months, however you knocked out your outdated rival, Yosuke Saruta, within the first spherical to defend your ONE Strawweight World Title and shut out your collection with him. How necessary was that for you?
Joshua Pacio: It was crucial for me. As a World Champion, that’s my job – to defend the belt and go away no questions. Apart from that, I’d need to admit that there was a little bit of strain on my finish as a result of lots of people had been considering that I could endure ring rust, so I’m completely happy to show them unsuitable as effectively.
One other factor that I’m completely happy about from that was, although I wasn’t in a position to present how a lot I’ve improved, it was nonetheless a convincing and satisfying win for me.
ONE: What enhancements had been you hoping to showcase in that battle?
JP: In that battle, you may see that I used to be simply defending the takedowns after which making an attempt to get again up after I obtained taken down. What I needed to point out was my well-roundedness – that I may go for takedowns and submissions towards a really robust opponent like Saruta.
ONE: Ought to we anticipate to see that in your subsequent bouts?
JP: Sure, in fact. We’ve been engaged on it for the reason that [COVID-19] pandemic [began]. We’ve been engaged on the boldness within the execution, particularly towards good grapplers.
I can’t all the time say, ‘Oh, I’m going through grappler, I’ve to work on my protection.’ Protection, protection, is all of it that it’s for me? I additionally need to present that I can go for takedowns, I can management the battle with my grappling, and I can throw out submission makes an attempt. I believe these are the following few issues that I’ll present in my subsequent few fights.
ONE: In November, your teammate Lito Adiwang misplaced to Jarred Brooks. Are you able to break down what occurred in that battle?
JP: That’s MMA for you. Whoever blinks first loses. For me, Lito was truly tiring Jarred Brooks out. That’s additionally what he instructed me. Jarred had a guillotine try and he exerted all his drive there, and that’s the place he started to tire out. Sure, I felt like he managed Lito in your complete first spherical. Within the second spherical, I felt like he was beginning to gasoline out.
There was additionally an occasion the place Lito threw a leg kick and Jarred requested for a timeout due to a low blow? Lito thought it wasn’t a low blow, after which he took your complete 5 minutes to relaxation. Then there it was, again in the identical place. Lito made one error and Brooks made him pay for it. Brooks positively needed to complete Lito as quickly as he obtained the choke, as he knew that Lito would flip the tide within the third spherical.
ONE: Brooks has been calling out the highest contenders within the strawweight division all 12 months, and he not too long ago beat Lito and took him out of the top-five rankings. That stated, do you suppose Brooks is your greatest menace now?
JP: Him calling us out is simply his fashion to get the massive fights within the rankings. Personally, I respect Jarred Brooks as an athlete. He’s a really skilled athlete, and he’s a very assured fighter.
What makes Jarred Brooks good is his expertise. He’s been preventing on the high degree in combined martial arts for the longest time. I can say he’s one of many threats on this division, however as I’ve been saying, I’ve been bettering by 1 % every day. And whereas he’s saying that he hasn’t confronted somebody in his degree, I do know for a incontrovertible fact that he additionally hasn’t confronted somebody like me.
ONE: There’s an inventory of recent contenders who need their shot at you, together with Brooks, Bokang Masunyane, and Hiroba Minowa. Who do you suppose is essentially the most harmful of the three?
JP: All of them are harmful. Since I’m on the highest of the meals chain, I do know all these guys you talked about are working laborious to beat me. However I’ve additionally stored a watch on them. We’ve been reviewing their types, we’ve been watching them, and all I can say is we’re prepared for whoever is subsequent.
ONE: However because the reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion, who do you suppose deserves the following title shot?
JP: You guys know me, I don’t actually nitpick opponents. I don’t like saying who I need to face subsequent. And as I’ve stated earlier, I’ve been reviewing all of the fights of the top-five [contenders] and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses simply to be prepared. Whoever it’s, I’ll be prepared.
ONE: Apart out of your win over Saruta, what’s your favourite reminiscence of the 12 months?
JP: Surviving COVID-19. I caught the virus and I survived, so I’m grateful. After which, in fact, the resumption of the coaching, and I’m completely happy to see my teammates get their massive breaks right here in ONE Championship.
ONE: Talking of which, what can we anticipate from Group Lakay subsequent 12 months?
JP: All the pieces is a blessing for us, each wins and losses, as a result of we get to evaluate what we lack and what we will work on. We’ve been working and bettering on our weaknesses, and that’s one thing that we’ll present subsequent 12 months – a group crammed with extra well-rounded MMA athletes.
ONE: Lastly, what’s Joshua Pacio’s want for 2022?
JP: For my profession, it’s nonetheless the identical – proceed bettering and ensure I proceed to defend the World Titles. I hope to defend it in entrance of the followers right here within the Philippines.
Learn extra: Loman Relives Knockout Debut, Desires One other Prime-Ranked Contender
