AFTER successfully defending his strawweight title, Joshua Pacio is not taking a time off this coming holidays.
Pacio immediately went back to gym after stopping Rene Catalan in November 8 to refine his skills and ground game.
The Filipino world champion will be back in action January 31 next year as ONE Championship, Asia’s largest global sports media property, announced its return to the Mall of Asia Arena as it hosts ONE: Fire & Fury which brings together the absolute best in world-class martial arts.
Pacio will defend his title against former world champion Alex Silva of Brazil.
The 23-year-old Pacio, who hails from Baguio City, captured the strawweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Japanese veteran Yoshitaka Naito in September of 2018, but surrendered the title to another Japanese warrior in Shooto World Champion Yosuke Saruta in his first defense.
Months later, Pacio avenged that defeat by knocking Saruta out with a head kick to regain ONE Championship gold.
Last November, Pacio successfully defended his title against compatriot Catalan, winning by second-round submission as he looks to make the second defense of his title against a streaking Silva.
Silva, a former ONE strawweight world champion, has been impressive as of late, earning his way back to title contention behind two incredible submission victories over Stefer Rahardian and Peng Xue Wen.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the promotion winning eight out of nine of his victories coming by way of submission.
On the card are Pacio’s Team Lakay teammates and fellow Filipinos who all face tough opposition.
Also in the fight card is former ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang returning to action against Pakistan’s Ahmed Mujtaba.
Folayang is on a comeback trail after scoring a second round technical decision against Mongolian Tsogookhuu Amarsana also in November 8.