“I can’t be one-dimensional” - Joshua Pacio looking to set up his grappling with his world-class striking against Yuya Wakamatsu

Joshua Pacio (Image by ONE Championship)
Joshua Pacio (Image by ONE Championship)

Reigning ONE strawweight MMA world champion 'The Passion' Joshua Pacio of the Philippines is preparing a comprehensive game plan for his move up a weight class to challenge flyweight MMA king ‘Little Piranha’ Yuya Wakamatsu of Japan.

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The pair of elites will square off at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, live at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

‘The Passion’ understands the importance of marrying his striking skills with his underrated grappling to secure victory against the Japanese titleholder on foreign soil.

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Pacio emphasized the importance of crafting a sound game plan for this world title showdown. He told ONE Championship:

"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's well-rounded skill set has carried him through numerous world title defenses throughout his career at strawweight, and he'll look to utilize that versatility against Wakamatsu in what promises to be a compelling stylistic matchup.

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If Pacio is victorious over Wakamatsu, he will make history as the first Filipino two-division MMA world champion.


Joshua Pacio warns Yuya Wakamatsu of impending danger with his newfound power

‘The Passion’ Joshua Pacio is growing more and more confident by the day as the fight with ‘Little Piranha’ Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri gets closer.

Pacio, in particular, says he’s gotten even more powerful after adding strength and bulk to his frame. He told ONE Championship:

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“I feel like I'm recovering much faster because I have more nutrients in my body. I'm eating a lot more.”

Pacio continued:

“My strength and conditioning approach was a bit different. We really focused on building raw power for this move.”

Tickets for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri are available via ePlus in Japan. Meanwhile, fans in North America can visit onefc.com for more information on various streaming options.

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

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Edited by Himakshu Vyas
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