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MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

ONE Chairman sees Joshua Pacio fighting for world title again


ONE Championship Chairman Chatri Sityodtong predicts that it is only a matter of time before Joshua Pacio of Baguio City's Team Lakay gets another crack at a world title.

The 20-year-old Pacio, who holds a record of 8-1, had his first title bid when he challenged the reigning ONE strawweight champion Yoshitaka Naito (12-0) of Japan this past October in Myanmar.

The young MMA fighter fought the perfect fight in the early going, but was submitted in the third round after committing a mistake. 

"It was clear that Pacio was winning the fight, had he kept up what he was doing, he would've won the fight," Sityodtong quipped.

"That being said, Naito is unbeaten for a reason. He's a champion and he showed it. You give him one small mistake to a champion and he's going to take you out."

Despite the loss, Sityodtong believes that Pacio was able to showcase his talent in the world of mixed martial arts.

Furthermore, he cites that Pacio's training with the Philippines' premier MMA camp would only result to him getting better.

"I do believe in the future that he will once again contend for the title. Just the fact that he's so young, he's only 20 years old," said Sityodtong.

"Under Mark Sangiao he's definitely going to develop more in his skills and abilities. I can see him fighting again and getting back to title contention. He's a very exciting fighter." — BAP, GMA News