JEREMY Pacatiw may have walked out of the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, last weekend with a bitter taste in his mouth, but not all is lost for the Filipino rising mixed martial arts star.
The 29-year-old native of Kapangan, Benguet endured a tough outing against Elbek Alyshov on the undercard of ONE Fight Night 34 this past Saturday, August 2, suffering a second-round submission setback in a 148.5-pound catchweight contest.
It was a one-sided affair from the get-go. Alyshov, an undefeated Azerbaijani making his promotional debut, dictated the proceedings with masterful grappling, pinning Pacatiw to the mat and advancing position with precision. The end came via a suffocating arm-triangle choke — an emphatic finish for the newcomer and a sobering setback for the mainstay.
Yet, for all of Alyshov’s brilliance, he came in 3.5 pounds over the organization’s 145-pound bantamweight limit, despite providing a hydrated urine sample subsequent to failing his initial hydration test and weigh-in during the three-hour window.
Consequently, the match proceeded at a 148.5-pound catchweight, with Alyshov forfeiting 40 percent of his purse and becoming ineligible to earn a place in the bracket’s rankings.
That technicality is the sole reason why Pacatiw’s No. 5 position in ONE Championship’s bantamweight MMA rankings remains intact — at least for now.
The promotion’s Athlete Rankings Panel met after the event but only made considerations for the featherweight MMA and bantamweight kickboxing ladders. Pacatiw, therefore, lives to fight another day in the top five. But make no mistake — the ground beneath him is beginning to shift.
A growing number of up-and-comers are eyeing his spot, including two familiar names from the Philippine MMA circuit. Carlo Bumina-ang has been turning heads with his crisp striking and finishing instincts, while Jhanlo Sangiao authored an impressive return to action following a two-year hiatus over a month ago. With another resounding triumph, both will have strong arguments for inclusion in the upper echelon of the weight class.
It’s clear that the pressure is on for Pacatiw. Staying in the conversation as a top-tier bantamweight means more than just surviving. It requires decisive wins, improved performances, and a renewed sense of urgency.
The debate over whether referee Olivier Coste should have reset the position when Pacatiw was tangled in the ropes — or whether MMA bouts should be confined to a cage entirely — is another matter, and one that ONE Championship may have to confront down the line.
For now, Pacatiw remains one of just two Filipinos in the bantamweight MMA top five, alongside his Lions Nation MMA teammate Stephen Loman, who holds the No. 2 spot.
But if he hopes to stay there, Jeremy Pacatiw must regroup, refocus, and return with fire. The road ahead is steep — but far from closed.
(For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)
