FOR over two years, Joshua Pacio was the subject of inexorable ridicule and skepticism, as if he had accomplished nothing at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
It all started when “The Passion” surrendered his ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship to American rival Jarred Brooks in December 2022, in front of a partisan crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
That night, “The Monkey God” took the Filipino superstar into deep waters he had never navigated before, prying away the throne Pacio had fought tooth and nail to defend. The aftermath? A narrative spun by naysayers, insisting Pacio didn’t belong in the same breath as Brooks when discussing elite-caliber fighters.
Then came the bombshell — his decision to leave Team Lakay in early 2023. He called it a move for “career growth,” a step toward new horizons to “improve.” But for many, it was heresy. In a culture where utang na loob — debt of gratitude — reigns supreme, they saw it as a betrayal. They claimed Pacio owed everything to Mark Sangiao’s legendary stable and that without it, he would be nothing more than a cautionary tale.
When Pacio joined forces with longtime teammates Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario to establish Lions Nation MMA, the critics only sharpened their knives. They mocked his ground game, questioned his loyalty, and dismissed him as forever playing second fiddle to Brooks.
And when Pacio reclaimed the title via disqualification in their March 2024 rematch, the jeers only got louder. “That’s the closest you’ll ever get to actually beating Brooks,” they scoffed.
Then came last Thursday, February 20, at ONE 171. Under the bright lights, in the main event, Pacio silenced every single doubter with a resounding statement — delivered knuckle-first.
The opening salvo saw Brooks hunting for the finish, chaining submission attempts in a relentless onslaught. However, Pacio weathered the storm, dug deep, and flipped the script in the second frame. He opened with a thunderous front kick, tripped Brooks to the mat, and instead of disengaging, he made a calculated choice: follow Brooks to the ground.
What happened next? No one saw it coming. Pacio established top control and unleashed a barrage of crisp punches to Brooks’ ribs, each strike carrying the weight of over two years’ worth of doubt.
The American squirmed, searched for an exit — but none existed. When Pacio pinned him against the cage fence, he unleashed a non-stop assault to the head, forcing referee Mohammad Sulaiman to step in with 38 seconds left in the round.
The Lusail Sports Arena erupted. The Filipino contingent in Qatar went absolutely ballistic. Pacio’s team — Folayang, Stephen Loman, grappling guru Gibran Langbayan, boxing tactician Darinton “Dondon” Colas, and Aaron Posawen — rushed into the Circle, hoisting him up in triumph. And there, in that moment, relief washed over Pacio’s face.
As company head honcho Chatri Sityodtong draped 26 pounds of gold over Pacio’s shoulder and confetti began to rain from the rafters, the Filipino dropped to his knees — overcome by the gravity of the moment, the trials he had endured, and the redemption he had finally seized.
He had climbed back from the abyss, going through harsh criticism, through an ACL injury, and through every doubt cast upon his name. But for those who have truly watched his journey, this wasn’t just about reclaiming a championship — it was the validation Pacio needed to cement himself as one of the greatest to ever strap on a pair of four-ounce gloves.
Few predicted that Pacio would defeat Brooks at his own game. But hindsight is 20/20, and if you had paid attention, you would have seen the signs. I wrote just last week — the more Pacio understands his opponent, the more dangerous he becomes.
He is only 29 years old. He is just entering his prime. And if last Thursday was any indication, we may very well be witnessing the greatest Filipino mixed martial artist of all time.
Doubt Joshua Pacio once? Shame on you. Doubt him again? That’s on you.
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