WHILE some fighters might view a quick turnaround as a disadvantage, Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw sees his recent activity as a crucial weapon heading into his bantamweight MMA clash against Elbek Alyshov.
Five months removed from his decision loss to #4-ranked Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu at ONE Fight Night 29 in March, the #5-ranked bantamweight contender believes his rhythm will serve as a significant edge over the debuting Russian at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on August 2 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Lions Nation MMA representative embraced the opportunity for a swift return to action, understanding that staying sharp in competition often trumps extended recovery times.
“I’m so grateful for this quick turnaround. It helps that they offered me this fight early so I have a longer preparation for this bout. With that said, given my preparation for this bout I’m excited to show what I prepared for,” Pacatiw said.
The contrast between the two fighters’ activity couldn’t be more stark.
While Pacatiw has stayed active through regular ONE Championship appearances, the 8-0 Alyshov hasn’t competed in some time – a factor that the 29-year-old Filipino views as potentially decisive.
Still, he’s not taking it lightly.
“He’s 8-0. He’s undefeated. It might have been a while since his last fight, so I think my activity’s gonna be an advantage, but we can’t be too sure. Maybe in that layoff, he was training with Khabib [Nurmagomedov], so I’m not taking that layoff lightly,” Pacatiw said laughing.
The benefits of staying active go beyond timing and rhythm. Pacatiw’s recent experience against high-level competition has provided him with valuable lessons, lessons he’s applying in his preparation for Alyshov.
“The fact that I can bounce back a few months after that setback, I’m grateful to be in this position,” he said.
The Baatarkhuu fight, while a loss, provided crucial intel that Pacatiw is now incorporating into his game plan.
“I feel like my submission defense was on point during that fight, I had some great escapes and put him in several positions but of course at the end of the day, it was far from enough – these are the things that I’ll be bringing for my next fight,” he said.
