Pacio roots for Team Lakay brother

AFTER Lito Adiwang’s change of opponent, fellow Team Lakay and ONE Championship strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio believes his teammate is prepared to take on any fighter in Asia’s largest mixed martial arts promotion.

Adiwang was originally paired with China’s Hexigetu but as later on scheduled to square off against Japan’s Namiki Kawahara in the fight card of ONE: UNBREAKABLE, live on Friday, January 22, 2021, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

Pacio said Adiwang versus Kawahara will be a good match up with fight fans assured to get entertained.

“It’s a good clash of styles and will be interesting to see who can impose his will. Of course, I have full confidence in my brother that he can take home the win,” Pacio said.

Adiwang, formerly ranked number 5 in the ONE Championship official athlete rankings at strawweight, dropped a close split decision to Japan’s Hiroba Minowa just a few months ago. In his next bout, “Thunder Kid” is out for redemption and wants it in the most satisfying way.

Pacio added most mixed martial arts fans are waiting for a rematch between Adiwang and Hiroba Minowa since the controversial split decision last year.

But with Kawahara in front of Adiwang, Pacio said his Team Lakay brother is more than focused and raring to get back into the win column.

“Lito is fully focused on facing the most dangerous fighter he’s ever faced. He’s completely ready for this matchup. I see Lito train every single day in the gym, wearing his heart on his sleeve. I know how hard he works and what skills he has. There aren’t many people who can match him strength for strength,” he added.

Before the loss to Minowa, Adiwang was riding a seven-bout winning streak and was one of the hottest fighters in ONE Championship. He earned his way to the main roster via ONE Warrior Series, joining the web series reality show in 2018. Under the watchful eye of mixed martial arts legend Rich Franklin, Adiwang flourished into an explosive contender.

According to Adiwang, the loss to Minowa was a much-needed learning experience, and he plans to apply the lessons he learned in his future fights.

“I made a lot of mistakes in that fight. I just wasn’t focused and sharp. A lot of things were happening in my life. For this next one, I’m going in there with clear focus. When I enter the Circle, it’s time to throw down. That fight taught me a lot. I learned from it and I will move forward a better fighter,” said Adiwang. (SunStar Baguio)