Yuya Wakamatsu Predicts Violent Ending For Pacio at ONE 173

Yuya Wakamatsu plans to deliver a brutal knockout when he puts his ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship on the line against strawweight king Joshua Pacio on November 16 at ONE 173.

The Japanese titleholder will make his first championship defense against a fellow divisional ruler, and he has already visualized exactly how the fight will end in Tokyo.

"I want to show my stand-up game. It's really a kill-or-be-killed feeling. I want to come out on top and catch my opponent clean. Either knock him unconscious or drop him, then finish with ground-and-pound until the referee steps in. That's the ideal finish for me," Wakamatsu declared.

The 30-year-old enjoyed a fairytale moment in March 2025 when he knocked out Adriano Moraes in the first round at ONE 172 to claim the vacant flyweight title.

Now, Wakamatsu has the opportunity to complete a perfect 2025 by defeating another legend on Japanese soil. The champion carries nine promotional wins and a four-fight winning streak into this blockbuster matchup.

Wakamatsu anticipates an explosive stylistic clash when he meets the Filipino challenger.

"My own style is to apply pressure, stepping in and then stepping back out. So when I compare our styles, I think they match up well," he said.

Pacio arrives at flyweight as the reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion with a 14-4 promotional record featuring nine finishes. The Lions Nation MMA fighter recently captured his sixth strawweight title by finishing Jarred Brooks in their trilogy bout, evening their rivalry at 2-1 after winning the last two encounters.

While confident in his abilities, the Japanese fighter acknowledges the significant threat posed by the 29-year-old Baguio City native seeking multi-division glory.

"He's a dangerous striker and a true all-rounder. He controls the fight really well. And he has knockout power in every strike. Knees, punches, and kicks are all dangerous. He can finish with one shot," Wakamatsu admitted.

ONE 173: Superbon Vs. Noiri will be broadcast live on live.onefc.com at 9:30 a.m. IST on Sunday, 16 November.