TEAM Lakay standouts have always prided themselves as the "Kings of Rematches."
And that couldn't be truer as Joshua Pacio aims to reclaim the ONE Strawweight Championship the next time he meets Yosuke Saruta.
"Mas na-excite. Pagkatapos noong announcement, medyo kumulit na ako eh. Na-eager akong bumalik sa training kaagad. Gusto kong patunayan na we're the King of Rematch," he said after losing his title via a split-decision defeat last Saturday at ONE: Eternal Glory in Jakarta.
What comforts the 23-year-old mixed martial aritst are the comments made by ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong as the executive felt that Pacio was the rightful winner of the fight and guaranteed him of another shot at the belt.
"My personal opinion, as a life-long martial artist, I think Joshua Pacio won the fight. I was very disappointed," said Sityodtong.
"In my opinion, Pacio won because he won the exchanges, he landed the harder shots. Yes, he was taken down, but Saruta did nothing. Just for me, from my perspective, I thought Joshua won, so yes there will be a rematch."
Pacio, though, vowed to learn from this setback as he looks to be a better version of himself the next time he steps on the cage.
"Marami akong natutunan. Kailangan ko lang talaga ngayon ibalik yung confidence ko and yung focus para makuha ulit yung belt," he said.
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