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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735624629530HS-8636.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino mixed martial arts star Joshua Pacio. Handout/ONE Championship"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino mixed martial arts star Joshua Pacio. <em>Handout/ONE Championship</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua &quot;The Passion&quot; Pacio had a totally different vision for how his 2024 was going to unfold. </p><p>He had already mapped out his &quot;whats&quot; and devised the &quot;hows&quot; for what he envisioned as a massive year for the Filipino star. </p><p>Little did he know that his year would be riddled with the question, &quot;Why?&quot; </p><p>&quot;I was asking [the Lord] questions. I asked Him why,&quot; Pacio recalled, referring to his long-awaited rematch against American rival Jarred Brooks, which ended in disaster after &quot;The Monkey God&quot; was disqualified for slamming the Filipino on his head.</p><p>&quot;In that fight, I felt like I was in my best shape. That was my best training camp, hands down. I hired a nutritionist, I had quality recovery,&quot; he added. &quot;I was so confident at that time. Even when I started walking out to that cage, I was light on my feet. I was really confident, but that&#x27;s what happened.&quot; </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/1/joshua-pacio-jarred-brooks-one-166-result-723">READ: Joshua Pacio reclaims ONE title as Jarred Brooks disqualified</a></div><p>The map for the 28-year-old had been clear and simple. </p><p>First, reclaim the belt from Brooks. Then, take on his challengers. Finally, improve outside of the cage by working on his jiu-jitsu and participating in various grappling tournaments. </p><p>But it wasn&#x27;t really that slam that kept him on the sidelines; it was a recurring ACL tear that he aggravated during the fight. </p><p>So instead of staying active as planned, his movement was limited to therapy and muscle strengthening – just working on his knees step-by-step, both literally and figuratively, until he finally received full clearance early this December – a full eight months since that fateful night. </p><p>&quot;You know, when I started the year, I envisioned it to be an active year both in ONE and outside of it. Beat Brooks, defend my title, and join jiu-jitsu competitions in both gi and no-gi,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s what I truly wanted. I wanted to improve my jiu-jitsu, but I couldn&#x27;t do it. There were a lot of things I missed out on because of the injury.&quot; </p><p>At the very least, he achieved one of his goals for the year – reclaiming the belt from Brooks. </p><p>Pacio shared how the method of winning it was the last thing on his mind, but he&#x27;ll always be proud of calling himself a ONE World Champion again, regardless of what happened. </p><p>Luckily for him, he&#x27;ll have the chance to prove his stature when he returns to the very place he re-injured his knee, against the very man he faced, Brooks, at ONE 171: Qatar on February 20 in Lusail Sports Arena. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/26/how-pacio-brooks-reconciled-following-horrid-one-166-finish-1709">READ: How Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks reconciled following horrid ONE 166 finish</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2024/12/9/mma-pacio-brooks-iii-to-co-headline-one-171-qatar-1816">READ: Pacio-Brooks III to co-headline ONE 171: Qatar</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1735624708946HS-9311.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Action between Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks at ONE 166: Qatar. Handout/ONE Championship"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Action between Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks at ONE 166: Qatar. <em>Handout/ONE Championship</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t really listen to what people say about whether I&#x27;m the true champion or not. But in each sport, there are rules we follow. Without them, there&#x27;d be chaos,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Unfortunately, it ended that way. It&#x27;s not the finish I wanted, not how I wanted to get the belt, but we have to follow the rules. Now it&#x27;s the time to prove it.&quot; </p><p>Perhaps the 26-pound gold belt hanging somewhere in his room in the cold and breezy mountains of Baguio City was the glistening answer to his &quot;why?&quot; </p><p>And while he didn&#x27;t get to finish his other plans, he already achieved his main goal – regardless of what others might say. As he continued to heal physically, Pacio was also growing spiritually, coming out of this debacle with his faith stronger than ever. </p><p>He may not be actively competing now, but the time off gave him an opportunity to focus more on his duties as a Christian, serving in his church, and becoming closer than ever to the Lord. </p><p>A quick glance at Pacio&#x27;s social media pages shows a man unafraid to profess his faith, using his platform as he patiently waits for his comeback. </p><p>&quot;Me winning that belt – I look at it as still God giving me what I wanted, but not how I wanted it,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;You know, the worst thing that can happen to an athlete is injuries. But at the end of the day, I still thank God for the healing. I&#x27;m 100 percent back. I&#x27;ve recovered well, I&#x27;m back to training, and that&#x27;s all I ask for.&quot; </p><p>These are the lessons he&#x27;s bringing into his fight with Brooks. Many people are branding him as an underdog, and for good reason. </p><p>But his confidence comes from his faith in the Lord and his belief in hard work. </p><p>As someone who planned so much for 2024, Pacio now embraces a new perspective – whatever happens will happen. </p><p>&quot;The lesson is that the Lord is still in control. I had to pause for a bit, but He reminded me that He&#x27;s always got me,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s why I&#x27;m confident in this fight. As long as I train hard and do my part, His will will be done.&quot; </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PuzFoQVEfMI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua "The Passion" Pacio had a totally different vision for how his 2024 was going to unfold. </p>

ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua "The Passion" Pacio had a totally different vision for how his 2024 was going to unfold.

How Joshua Pacio's career 'pause' in 2024 gave him newfound purpose | ABS-CBN

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How Joshua Pacio's career 'pause' in 2024 gave him newfound purpose

How Joshua Pacio's career 'pause' in 2024 gave him newfound purpose

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 31, 2024 08:00 PM PHT

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