ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio is in hot pursuit of his second World Title at flyweight, and the Filipino superstar says he is settling into the weight class quite nicely.

The Lions Nation MMA representative will challenge newly crowned ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in the Japanese veteran’s first defense of the gold at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri.

This World Champion versus World Champion showdown will take place live on Sunday, November 16 from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Pacio stands tall as arguably the greatest strawweight in ONE Championship history. The 29-year-old has had multiple World Title reigns and has overcome every opponent thrown his way.

Most recently, he defeated American rival Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks via second-round TKO in their trilogy bout at ONE 171: Qatar this past February, cementing his status as the undisputed 125-pound king.

However, the chance to become the Philippines’ first-ever two-division MMA World Champion was simply too difficult to overlook:

“My main goal was to defend my strawweight title, but I’ll always grab opportunities that ONE Championship gives me. They gave me a chance to fight for the flyweight belt, so here we are.”

Pacio understands that this legacy-building opportunity demands adaptation. At a higher weight class, he has to be bigger in every way.

And because he’s taking on the division’s new king in Wakamatsu — a devastating finisher who sleeps opponents with ruthless precision — the Filipino is taking his move up to flyweight very seriously.

So far, “The Passion” is thriving. He is fueling his body with proper nutrition rather than restricting it, and has unlocked new levels of performance.

“The Passion” explained:

“For this fight, I’m actually quite thrilled. I don’t have to cut weight that much. [Peter Miller] from Condition Nutrition is still guiding me. At strawweight, I had to restrict my calories. Now, I’m quite surprised by the amount I’m able to eat. 

“I’m doing the hard training like I usually do, but this time I’m eating a lot of healthy foods. I’m more relaxed, and I’m enjoying my training camp.”

That being said, Pacio is fully aware of the task at hand. At Lions Nation MMA, he has taken every necessary step to ensure he fills into the flyweight frame.

The Baguio City native added:

“I didn’t exactly bulk up too much, but I can assure you I’ve gotten physically stronger to be ready for this weight class. 

“The priority is to make sure my body has adjusted well. This is my natural walking weight, but I’ve been fighting at 125 pounds for so long. My body is used to that already. So this is new.”

Pacio Feels Reborn At Flyweight

The body transformation goes beyond mere aesthetics. Although Joshua Pacio has become stronger, more robust, and more physically imposing, his body also now rebounds from brutal training sessions faster than ever.

He says he feels rejuvenated and refreshed — reborn even. “The Passion” offered:

“I really feel extra powerful in this weight class. I feel it in training, too, particularly with my recovery. During my training camps at strawweight, usually fatigue sets in near the end of the week. But right now, I have the same energy levels I had from the start. 

“I feel like I’m recovering much faster because I have more nutrients in my body. I’m eating a lot more.”

For the Filipino, the focus hasn’t just been about adding bulk. His team has meticulously tackled the move to flyweight, prioritizing function over heft. Now, he’s confident he can handle Yuya Wakamatsu’s notorious pressure-packed style.

That confidence stems from a methodical strength-building program:

“My strength and conditioning approach was a bit different. We really focused on building raw power for this move. 

“Before I accepted the fight, I already understood that it’s an entirely different weight class in terms of physicality. Not just to weather their strength, but actually match it.”

Developing explosive force without sacrificing the speed and agility that has defined his game was non-negotiable. Pacio’s quickness has always been his most important weapon. He believes the added muscle hasn’t diminished it. If anything, he says he has become more dangerous than ever.

The Lions Nation MMA star concluded:

“The main thing, of course, is to make sure I don’t lose speed. It’s one of my best attributes, so I made sure it’s still there when I move up a weight class.”