MMA

Joshua Pacio reveals title winning game plan against Naito

MANILA - Newly crowned ONE strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio of Baguio City's Team Lakay revealed his camp's game plan in his title winning performance against the then Japanese champion Yoshitaka Naito in the main event of "ONE: Conquest of Heroes" last Saturday at the Jakarta Convention Center.

The 22-year-old Pacio showcased a highly-improved, well-rounded, and mature overall game in his five five-minute rounds against Naito. Mixing a wide array of strikes and improved grappling during the fight, the newest Filipino MMA champion discussed how they developed the game plan was for the title bout.

"Our three-point game plan was to hit him hard on the cuff, solar plexus and jaw. I was able to hit him on the cuff plenty of times but was unsuccessful in hitting the solar because he moves a lot. The leg kick I was able to implement," said Pacio.

"Naito is very patient and is more than capable of taking hard shots. He was trying to time my knee to his jaw but was unsuccessful. He's really a tough opponent because he keeps moving forward no matter what happens."

Also a Hotel and Restaurant Management undergraduate at the University of Cordilleras, Pacio is the third current title holder in Team Lakay. He joins the ranks of ONE undisputed flyweight world champion Geje Eustaquio and ONE interim bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon.

Pacio conceded that being both a professional fighter and a college student was tough, much more now that he is a champion. The young phenom, nevertheless, was overjoyed that all of his sacrifices had paid off.

"I'm very happy to be the third Team Lakay fighter to win a world title this year. I can't explain the feeling, I didn't even know if I wanted to laugh or cry. This fight was for the typhoon victims in Baguio where a lot of people we know have died," Pacio told.

"I don't want to think that I'm only 22 years old, I just focus on my career. Hard work pays off, it's hard to juggle studies and training. It's all about time management, there are times that I sleep late because of hard training. It's tough, but I am happy because my hard work is rewarded." — DVM, GMA News