Filipino mixed martial artist Jeremy Pacatiw faces a unique challenge as he prepares for his clash with undefeated Elbek Alyshov at ONE Fight Night 34: Eersel vs. Jarvis on Friday, August 1, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 29-year-old striker recently became a first-time father while maintaining his demanding training schedule for the bantamweight MMA contest. Pacatiw has had to balance elite athletic preparation with supporting his wife and caring for their newborn son.
"Of course I'm happy and excited, I had a baby boy. I'm excited to take good care of him," Pacatiw said. "There will be adjustments in our lives, but it's a good one to have. I'm excited."
The transition to fatherhood has presented challenges beyond typical fight camp pressures. Sleep deprivation and household responsibilities have become daily realities as Pacatiw and his wife navigate raising their first child.
"There are struggles of course. The lack of sleep, the fight is coming up, and there are only two of us in the household, me and my wife," Pacatiw said. "So those are the things that are on my mind."
Despite the challenges, Pacatiw approaches fatherhood with the same determination that has characterized his fighting career. The experience has shifted his perspective from individual competitor to family provider.
"When our baby grows, he better be behaved and cooperative," Pacatiw said with a laugh. "But in all seriousness, this is a different sphere for me. I can't describe my excitement because I'm starting my own little family now. Just grateful and excited."
Pacatiw credits his wife Marj for making the fight possible through her support and understanding. After all, the decision to accept the bout against Alyshov required careful consideration between partners.
"I'm lucky to have such a strong and supportive wife by my side. Before taking this fight, I laid everything on the table for her," Pacatiw said. "We really talked about it as partners and we decided if it would be possible for me to take this fight. She said, 'Yes.' She told me, 'We can work this out.'"
The Filipino fighter has restructured his training approach to maximize quality time with his family while maintaining his preparation standards. In fact, Pacatiw has eliminated distractions and streamlined his schedule.
"Now it's all up to me to still find a balance and still spend quality time with her, resting and training to the best of my abilities," Pacatiw said. "During training, it just has to be training. After gym, no more side trips, I head straight home and that's where I rest and recover."
