ONE Championship's strawweight MMA division returns to the spotlight on Wednesday, November 18, when ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio defends his title against Keito Yamakita at ONE SAMURAI 5 from inside EBARA WAVE Arena Ota in Tokyo, Japan.
The matchup represents the latest chapter in a division Pacio has shaped more than any other fighter. The 30-year-old Filipino has held the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title on three separate occasions, a distinction shared by only one other fighter in promotional history.
His career MMA record stands at 24-5 with 19 finishes, including a 15-5 mark and 10 stoppages since joining ONE Championship. Pacio's title reigns have spanned nearly a decade, beginning with a rematch win over Yoshitaka Naito in 2018 and running through a trilogy victory over Jarred Brooks at ONE 171: Qatar last year that unified the division.
He arrives off a first-round submission finish of Mansur Malachiev this past July, a result that reinforced his standing as one of the sport's most complete strawweights heading into Tokyo.
Yamakita brings a different kind of resume to the table. The 30-year-old Japanese wrestler out of Reversal Gym Shinjuku Me and We holds a 13-1 career record with six finishes and a 6-1 mark inside the promotion.
Currently on a five-fight winning streak, Yamakita has built his case through world-class grappling, recording victories over former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Alex Silva and Yosuke Saruta. He turned professional at 23 and went 7-0 before signing with ONE Championship in 2023.
The stage in Tokyo sets up a compelling stylistic battle between Pacio's well-rounded striking and finishing instincts and Yamakita's dominant wrestling and submission game.
For Pacio, retaining the belt would further cement his status as one of the greatest champions in ONE Championship history. For Yamakita, a win would mark the biggest moment of his career and establish him as the new face of the strawweight MMA division.
