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ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua Pacio of the Philippines isn’t fazed about being at a hometown disadvantage against Yuya Wakamatsu.'The Passion' will challenge the reigning ONE flyweight MMA world champion in the blockbuster ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, set to go down on Nov. 16.While fans inside the packed Ariake Arena will no doubt cheer their lungs out for their countryman Wakamatsu, Pacio still sees multiple paths to achieving two-division glory.The 29-year-old from Baguio City shared in a ONE Championship interview:"We're going to Japan to win. I see myself getting my hand raised by the end of the night. If the knockout won't come, it'll probably be by unanimous decision or submission."Pacio’s confidence is well warranted, given his unmatched domination in the strawweight MMA division.The Filipino fan-favorite spent years competing in championship rounds and conquering hostile environments.On the other hand, Wakamatsu will be defending his 26 pounds of gold for the first time after knocking out Adriano Moraes in Japan in March at ONE 172.‘Little Piranha’ might be dangerous, but he hasn’t been tested yet in championship competition, as far as Pacio is concerned. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostJoshua Pacio says his versatility will overwhelm Yuya WakamatsuDespite the threat of Yuya Wakamatsu's mind-numbing power, Joshua Pacio is confident he can trade strike for strike with the feared knockout merchant.Furthermore, 'The Passion' believes he has a huge advantage if the fight hits the ground.The undisputed strawweight MMA kingpin shared his biggest advantage over 'Little Pirnanha'."The fight will always start on the feet. But if I get the opportunity to take him down, I'll take it. We're really planning to mix things up. I understand he's a really strong striker," he told ONE.Follow Sportskeeda and ONE Championship for the latest news on this epic champion vs. champion clash.
