ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio has discovered unexpected benefits from moving up to flyweight as he prepares to challenge Yuya Wakamatsu for a second ONE World Title at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The 29-year-old Filipino seeks to become his nation's first two-division MMA World Champion after recently defending his strawweight crown with a second-round TKO over Jarred Brooks at ONE 171 in February. The opportunity to challenge for flyweight gold proved too compelling to ignore despite his dominance at 125 pounds.
"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 said.
The transition to flyweight has brought physical improvements that Pacio didn't anticipate during his preparation. The Lions Nation MMA representative has maintained his work with nutritionist Peter Miller from Condition Nutrition, but the approach has shifted dramatically from the calorie restriction required for strawweight competition.
"For this fight, I'm actually quite thrilled. I don't have to cut weight that much. At strawweight, I had to restrict my calories. Now, I'm quite surprised by the amount I'm able to eat," Pacio said. "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."
The increased nutrition has produced tangible benefits beyond simply adding muscle mass. Pacio reports significantly faster recovery from training sessions compared to his strawweight camps, where fatigue typically accumulated as fight week approached.
"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," Pacio said. "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."
The Baguio City native has approached the weight change methodically, focusing on functional strength rather than bulk. His team implemented a specialized strength and conditioning program designed to build power while preserving the speed and agility that have defined his fighting style.
"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," Pacio said. "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."
