Joshua "The Passion" Pacio of Team Lakay reclaimed the ONE Strawweight World Championship with an impressive knockout victory over Yosuke Saruta in ONE: Roots of Honor, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday.
The Passion had a rough first round but as the bout carried on, Pacio was more loose and grew more confident with his strikes, steadily getting the better of the Japanese star in the stand-up department.
Midway into the fourth round, the Igorot warrior perfectly timed a right knee right to the head of his Japanese foe that knocked him out at the 2:43 mark of the fourth round to become a two-time champion of the mixed martial arts outfit.
Joshua Pacio scores a MASSIVE KO, reclaiming the ONE Strawweight World Title! ?? #WeAreONE #RootsOfHonor #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/sPWNAN1H88
- ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 12, 2019
"I'm so speechless right now," said Pacio, who improved to 17-3 while redeeming himself from a shock loss to Saruta back in January at ONE: Eternal Glory in Jakarta.
"Belt nating lahat ito!," Pacio said as he celebrated with home fans.
Hometown hero Joshua Pacio shares a sensational victory with his fellow Filipinos! ?? #WeAreONE #RootsOfHonor #Manila #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/i75H4DCyYa
- ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 12, 2019
