ONE Strawweight MMA world champion Joshua 'The Passion' Pacio will be rooting hard for Jeremy 'The Jaguar' Miado when he tries to end his three-fight losing skid on Saturday, July 6, but he knows that it’s not going to be easy for his compatriot.
Miado takes on No. 4-ranked strawweight contender Hiroba Minowa in a crucial MMA battle for both men at ONE Fight Night 23: Ok vs. Rasulov inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Pacio sees this fight as a classic striker-versus-grappler affair and believes victory will come down to who will impose his expertise on the other.
"Of course, I'm rooting for Jeremy Miado. But objectively speaking, the fighter who strategically deploys their best weapons first is likely to win the match,” Pacio said.
Jeremy Miado's KO power is his great equalizer
Miado Is Always Dangerous
It’s undeniable that Miado’s bane has been defending takedowns and submissions, and Minowa’s strengths fall right into that.
But Pacio thinks that the Filipino’s hands are his equalizer, and that if Miado can put them to good use this weekend, it’s going to be a short night for Minowa.
“Jeremy Miado possesses a powerful advantage of his own. He packs a serious punch with his fists and is skilled in striking techniques,” he said.
“Underestimating Jeremy Miado would be a mistake you can't afford to make when facing him. With one strike, he can put you to sleep."
All in all, the 28-year-old expects this bout to steal the show given both fighters’ situations.
Miado is looking to prove that he can hang with wrestlers and that he belongs with the division’s elite, while Minowa is desperately holding onto his spot in the divisional rankings.
"Both fighters face significant challenges going into this bout, driven by their hunger for victory. I anticipate a showdown where they put everything on the line,” Pacio said.
“Given the division's current developments, it's either a sprint to the top or a fierce battle to hold onto their positions in the rankings."
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