Joshua Pacio finds inspiration in Folayang's comeback

Former ONE strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio found inspiration from compatriot and fellow former champ Eduard Folayang ahead of his fight against Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 15 this Saturday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 39-year-old Folayang snapped his five-fight losing skid last week after he defeated Amir Khan in their rematch by way of third-round knockout.

For Pacio, Folayang’s win serves as motivation not just for him but for the entire Lions Nation MMA team.

“For me, I saw the leadership from Kuya Eduard. It's about showing that you can also do what he did. His leadership for the all of us in the team, that's one of the things that inspires me. If he can do it, we can try to do it also," Pacio said in Filipino.

Since leaving Team Lakay together with his former world champion teammates, Pacio went on a training tour with Folayang in America and has also trained under the guidance of Jiu-Jitsu black belt Gibran Langbayan, who is the in-house BJJ coach at Landslide Martial Arts Training Center.

Though fully aware that Malachiev is a force to reckon with, Pacio plans to showcase that he remains one of the best in his weight class by winning.

"Of course, he's nothing to scoff at. He's undefeated for a reason," Pacio quipped.

“For a guy like me fighting in this level of competition, as they say, there are levels in this game. I believe that I’ve been fighting the best of the best in the world and I really belong here in the highest level of competition.”

Folayang had previously said that Lions Nation's goal is to make more world champions, especially in the Philippines.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News