JAKARTA - Smarter and stronger: that's the kind of fighter Joshua Pacio has claimed to become, two years after his first attempt to claim the ONE Strawweight Championship from Yoshitaka Naito ended in failure.
Fast forward to now and the 22-year-old Igorot is coming in with a lot of confidence for his much-awaited rematch against the Japanese titlist in the main event of ONE: Conquest of Heroes at Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday.
"Madadala ko sa rematch namin is 'yung confidence ko. Last fight namin, nag-focus ako sa takedown defense at takbo, hit-and-run, pero ngayon, nag-focus kami sa wrestling offense," he said. "Kung may pagkakataon na i-take down natin siya, kukunin natin. Kung may pagkakataon na maging aggressive tayo sa ground, kukunin din natin."
Pacio (12-2) suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Naito (13-1) back in October 2016 at ONE: State of Warriors in Yangon, Myanmar, when the latter found away to lock in the rear-naked choke to his Filipino challenger in the third round.
Since then, the La Trinidad, Benguet native has been sharpening his arsenal under the guidance of Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao.
Pacio has since won four of his last five fights while using that defeat to Naito as an eye-opener.
"Malaki yung experience na binigay niya sa akin doon sa huli naming laban. Maraming lessons ang napag-aralan ko mula sa kanya. Nakaharap ko din yung ibang mabibigat na kalaban sa division ko tulad nina Dejdamrong (Sor Amnuaysirichoke) at Hayato Suzuki kaya malaking experience lahat yun para sa akin," he said.
Pacio also has new tricks up his sleeve like the new-found weapon he calls the "Passion Lock," a modified keylock he used to submit Pongsiri Mirsatit last July - and one which he wouldn't hesitate to use on Naito if given the chance.
"High level yung grappling niya, pero kung makakapunta ako sa likod niya at kung may pagkakataon, pwede kong gamitin," he said.
"The Passion," though, wouldn't deny that he was quite surprised to be given another title shot given the abundance of talent in the division, but he's more than willing to seize the opportunity and take what he feels is rightfully his.
"Hindi ko inaasahan na lalaban ako agad sa title fight. Pero sa tingin ko handang handa na kasi nakalaban ko naman siya," said Pacio, who is vying to be the third Team Lakay fighter to claim a ONE title this year following ONE flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio and interim ONE bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon.
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