Yuya Wakamatsu seeks to halt Joshua Pacio’s bid for historic two-division glory

Reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio is aiming to etch his name in history by becoming the first Filipino fighter to capture titles in two different divisions in ONE Championship.

Standing in his way is Yuya Wakamatsu, the dangerous Japanese striker who currently holds the ONE Flyweight World Championship. Wakamatsu claimed the belt with a stunning first-round victory over Adriano Moraes at ONE 172 and will defend it against Pacio at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japanese champion enters the matchup riding a four-fight winning streak and will have the added advantage of competing before a hometown crowd. Determined to protect his crown, Wakamatsu vowed to deliver an emphatic performance.

“This belt is something I fought for with everything I have—it’s the result of my life’s dedication. I won’t give it up easily. By defending it, I want to prove my worth as a true champion,” Wakamatsu said. “I’m going into this with everything I’ve got. As a ONE world champion, I will make sure to get the win in front of the Japanese fans.”

Filipino fans are already familiar with Wakamatsu, who made his ONE debut in 2018 against Pacio’s teammate Danny Kingad, dropping a close decision. A year later, he stunned former champion Geje Eustaquio with a first-round finish at the Mall of Asia Arena before avenging his loss to Kingad in a rematch six years later.

From the Archives 🎞️ What goes around, comes around 😤 Joshua Pacio goes for two-division glory when he moves up to challenge flyweight MMA king Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 173 in Tokyo!#ONE173 | Nov 16
Get your tickets now 👉 Link in bio pic.twitter.com/l8RpZW4fP1

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) July 29, 2025

Acknowledging Pacio’s caliber, Wakamatsu praised his opponent but remained confident of victory.

“Joshua Pacio is a current world champion and a dangerous fighter with well-rounded skills. But if I stick to my game plan, I believe I’ll come out on top. We’re both fast and tactical fighters, so I think it’s going to be a thrilling, high-level battle. I want to make it a fight fans will remember, and I’ll step into the Circle with the pride and responsibility of representing Japan,” he said.

For his part, Pacio enters the superfight in top form. Earlier this year, he successfully defended his strawweight crown in a unification bout against Jarred Brooks at ONE 171: Qatar, staged at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha. In that contest, Pacio mounted a dramatic comeback, earning a second-round TKO to close their trilogy 2–1, improve his record to 23–4, and secure a $50,000 performance bonus.

Now, with momentum on his side, the Filipino champion looks to conquer new territory as he moves up in weight to challenge Wakamatsu.

The high-stakes clash for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title takes place on November 16 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the blockbuster ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri card.

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