Filipino MMA icon Eduard Folayang confident Joshua Pacio will make Philippines proud in ONE title bid

Filipino MMA star Joshua Pacio is on the verge of making history as he prepares to challenge for a second world title in ONE Championship.

The reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion is set to face Yuya Wakamatsu, the dangerous Japanese striker and current ONE Flyweight World Champion, in a blockbuster bout at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

A victory would make Pacio the first Filipino fighter to win world titles in two different weight divisions in ONE Championship, a feat that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest Filipino mixed martial artists of all time.

Pacio’s opponent, Wakamatsu, captured the flyweight title with a stunning first-round knockout of Adriano Moraes at ONE 172, solidifying his status as one of the promotion’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

Ahead of the historic showdown, Filipino MMA icon Eduard Folayang expressed full confidence in Pacio’s chances.

Eduard Folayang underscores how monumental it would be for the sport in the country if Joshua Pacio topples Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 173 on Nov. 16, capturing the Japanese’s ONE Flyweight MMA World Title & etching his name in history as the first Filipino two-division world champion pic.twitter.com/JPXUwzmNeg

— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) August 19, 2025

“I’m really proud and excited for Joshua,” said Folayang at a recent press conference. “Seeing him in this position is inspiring—not just for me but for every Filipino fighter. We’ve walked this journey together for many years, and I know the hard work and sacrifice he’s poured into this sport.”

Folayang, a former ONE Lightweight World Champion, has shared much of his journey with Pacio—from their time at Team Lakay to their current partnership under Lions Nation MMA. He witnessed Pacio’s remarkable comeback from a serious knee injury, culminating in a knockout win over Jarred Brooks in February that earned him back the strawweight belt.

“Joshua has always been a student of the game. He’s disciplined, humble, and always pushing himself beyond his limits,” Folayang added. “His fight IQ is elite, and he knows how to adjust during a fight. But most importantly, his heart is unmatched. He fights for something bigger—his people, his country, and for the glory of God. That’s what makes him dangerous.”

Folayang believes that Pacio’s potential victory could have ripple effects across the Philippine MMA scene.

“If Joshua wins this fight, it will be a proud moment for all Filipinos. It will show that we belong among the best in the world,” he said. “It will inspire the next generation of fighters and prove that with discipline, faith, and hard work, anything is possible.”

Pacio, 29, already holds one of the most impressive résumés in ONE Championship history for a Filipino fighter. A win in Tokyo would not only etch his name in the record books—it could redefine the future of Philippine MMA.

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