IT is #5-ranked bantamweight contender Jeremy “The Juggernuat” Pacatiw’s turn to take a shot at a guy who’s made a living off beating Filipino mixed martial artists.
Pacatiw takes on the division’s fourth-ranked contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu at ONE Fight Night 29 on March 8 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
This fight comes as a replacement of sorts for Pacatiw. The Lions Nation MMA representative was supposed to take on Ibragim Dauev last week at ONE Fight Night 28, but the Russian came in overweight. So “Juggernaut” opted to wait for his next fight instead.
That’s why he’s coming in ready for this one – only looking at the delay as a prolonged training camp.
“Everything happens in God’s perfect timing. My last fight didn’t push through but I kept my focus and stayed ready,” Pacatiw said.
“Now I’m grateful for this new opportunity to compete in March against a tough Mongolian opponent. I’ll make the most of it and give my best in the Circle.”
It won’t be easy against a guy who’s known as a “Filipino Killer,” owing to his mastery over Pinoys in ONE Championship.
In fact, four of his five wins in ONE have come against Filipinos, the most notable being Jhanlo Mark Sangiao and Carlo Bumina-ang. Against those two, Baatarkhuu took away the unbeaten records of the brilliant Team Lakay talents.
Pacatiw will also come in highly motivated as a win here would give him his third straight victory. Plus, a crucial victory against a fellow contender would certainly make his case stronger for a shot at ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade.
READ: Stephen Loman calls out ONE Bantamweight King Fabricio Andrade - There's nowhere to run
But that would mean that two fighters from Lions Nation MMA would be chasing Andrade, as #2-ranked Stephen Loman is also eyeing his shot at the dangerous Brazilian.
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