Camille Naredo

Filipino fighter Joshua Pacio will challenge Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 173. Handout/ONE Championship

Filipino fighter Joshua Pacio will challenge Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 173

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ONE Championship

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753090748020ONE Championship.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino fighter Joshua Pacio will challenge Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 173. Handout/ONE Championship"/>Filipino fighter Joshua Pacio will challenge Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 173. Handout/ONE Championship</div>MANILA -- Filipino fighter Joshua &quot;The Passion&quot; Pacio is embracing a new challenge in his mixed martial arts career.Already the most decorated fighter in ONE Championship&#x27;s strawweight mixed martial arts division, Pacio will attempt to become the Philippines&#x27; first-ever two-division world champion when he challenges new flyweight king Yuya &quot;Little Piranha&quot; Wakamatsu for his belt.The bout is scheduled to take place at ONE 173 on November 16 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.The 29-year-old Pacio is entering uncharted waters, having competed in strawweight throughout his tenure in ONE Championship. But the Filipino star has no hesitations about finally seeing action in a higher weight class.&quot;Moving up in weight is definitely a huge step for me, but more than anything, I see it as a great opportunity,&quot; said Pacio. &quot;At this point in my career, I have nothing to lose. I only have a chance to grow and test myself.&quot;&quot;I thank God, and I&#x27;m truly grateful to Chatri [Sityodtong] and ONE Championship for trusting me with this challenge, and I&#x27;m excited to embrace it fully,&quot; he added.Pacio spent nearly a year away from competition while recovering from a partially torn ACL, and only made his return in February at ONE 171 in Qatar, where he took on longtime rival Jarred Brooks in a trilogy bout for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title.The brash American had Pacio in danger early, as he tried submitting him with a guillotine choke in the first round. But &quot;The Passion&quot; escaped and in the second round, he ultimately got Brooks on his back and finished him with ground-and-pound to unify the gold.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/2/21/mma-pacio-stops-brooks-in-thriller-to-become-undisputed-one-champ-1011">READ: Pacio stops Brooks in thriller to become undisputed ONE champ</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/2/21/in-photos-joshua-pacio-unifies-one-strawweight-mma-world-title-1755">IN PHOTOS: Joshua Pacio unifies ONE Strawweight MMA World Title</a></div>That win bumped his record to 23-4 and made him an unprecedented seven-time ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion.At ONE 173, he will head into hostile territory to challenge the local hero in Wakamatsu, who has won his last four bouts -- including a victory over the Filipino star&#x27;s Lions Nation MMA teammate Danny Kingad.That winning streak was capped by the 30-year-old Japanese striker&#x27;s crowning moment, when he knocked out Adriano &quot;Mikinho&quot; Moraes in the first round of their rematch at ONE 172 back in May to claim the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.While Pacio knows that his opponent will have the home court advantage, he is counting on the support of his countrymen in this latest challenge.&quot;I may be moving up in weight, but I&#x27;m bringing the same heart, the same dedication, and the same fighting spirit that I&#x27;ve always carried as a proud Filipino,&quot; said Pacio.

Filipino fighter Joshua "The Passion" Pacio is embracing a new challenge in his mixed martial arts career.

Filipino fighter Joshua "The Passion" Pacio is embracing a new challenge in his mixed martial arts career.

MMA: Pacio to go up in weight, challenge Wakamatsu for ONE flyweight crown

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MMA: Pacio to go up in weight, challenge Wakamatsu for ONE flyweight crown

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 22, 2025 12:00 PM PHT

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