ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio has identified maintaining his signature speed as the critical factor in his pursuit of two-division World Title status when he challenges flyweight king Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 173 on 16 November.
The Filipino's preparation for moving up a weight class centers on ensuring his greatest weapon remains sharp against the Japanese titleholder.
"The main thing, of course, is to make sure I don't lose speed. It's one of my best attributes, so I made sure it's still there when I move up a weight class," Pacio emphasized about his training camp focus.
The Baguio native's opportunity to challenge for flyweight gold came after he successfully defended his strawweight throne, most recently completing his trilogy with Jarred Brooks by winning their last two encounters for a 2-1 series victory.
When ONE Championship presented the chance to compete for a second title, Pacio's ambitions expanded beyond his original defensive plans.
"My main goal was to defend my strawweight title, but I'll always grab opportunities that ONE Championship gives me. They gave me a chance to fight for the flyweight belt, so here we are," the Lions Nation MMA representative stated.
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The weight-class transition has delivered unexpected benefits for the 14-4 ONE Championship veteran with nine finishes, transforming his typically gruelling preparation into a more enjoyable experience.
"For this fight, I'm actually quite thrilled. I don't have to cut weight that much. At strawweight, I had to restrict my calories. Now, I'm quite surprised by the amount I'm able to eat. I'm more relaxed, and I'm enjoying my training camp," Pacio revealed.
This champion-versus-champion clash tests whether Pacio's speed and technical excellence can overcome the natural size advantages Wakamatsu possesses, with two-division glory hanging in the balance for the Filipino star.
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