Sports

Pacio stakes title versus experienced American


Joshua Pacio

Photo from ONE Championship

Joshua Pacio vividly remembers the jarring feeling of celebrating a successful title defense in front of an empty gallery.

“The last one was like a practice session. And that’s in Singapore, ending with a stop. Can you imagine if it was here? he told the Questioner.

He knew that wasn’t going to happen Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena, where he placed ONE of his strawweight titles ahead of American Jarred Brooks in a match titled one card. stacked to celebrate the promotion’s first live event in Manila since the pandemic hit.

The famed Team Lakay 26-year-old forward will be an already successful competitor in the UFC, Bellator, Pancrase and Rizin Fighting League. Brooks was also quick to take down the enemy on his way to the match against the Philippine champion.

But Pacio didn’t have time to mull over those details. He simply wants to handle the business — and again hear the crowd cheering for him, like back in April when he took out Saruta.

“Back to MOA with 20,000 people? Geez. It’s exciting,” said Pacio, who has been an expressionist since his failed debut in Myanmar six years ago.

Several standout Philippine players and Pacio’s teammates at the Benguet stables are also competing in the whirlwind two-part showcase that begins at 9 a.m.

Filipino icon, Eduard Folayang, showed up in a lightweight MMA bout against Brazil’s Edson Marques, looking to break out of a four-game losing streak.

Denice Zamboanga also returned to the circle. Eager to get back in shape after a second straight loss to Seo Hee-ham, when Thailand’s ace played Chia’s Heqin Lin.

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