JOSHUA Pacio's next world title defense is now set.
The Lions Nation MMA star returns to the ONE Championship stage when he defends the Strawweight MMA World Title against Japanese wrestler Keito Yamakita at ONE Samurai 5 on November 18 at the EBARA Wave Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Pacio, 24-5 and considered as the best strawweight the promotion has ever seen, is in his third reign as the promotion's top dog at the strawweight division and he'll be looking for his third successful title defense in this current run.
He's fresh off a highly-impressive first-round submission win over Dagestani wrestler Mansur Malachiev just last July. Another win here would give him his ninth title fight win -- cementing his place among the greatest mixed martial artists the Philippines has produced.
But it won't come easy, especially against another wrestler who's coming in with a lot of momentum.
Yamakita, 9-1, has racked up five straight wins which includes former strawweight king Yosuke Saruta and Filipino fan favorites Lito Adiwang and Jeremy Miado.
Like Pacio, he's coming off a first round submission win in his last outing against Koyuru Tanoue.
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