Team Lakay’s Joshua Pacio. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In the eyes of ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong, Team Lakay’s Joshua Pacio should’ve come away with the victory in the strawweight title bout at ONE: Eternal Glory in Jakarta last Saturday.
“I’m not a judge, but my personal opinion CEO I thought Joshua Pacio won the fight,” boldly said Sityodtong during the press conference for ONE: Hero’s Ascent Tuesday. “So in my opinion, Joshua Pacio won because he won the exchanges and he landed the hard shots, yes [Yosuke Saruta] he took him down but he did nothing.”
READ: Team Lakay’s Joshua Pacio yields ONE strawweight title to Yosuke Saruta
But Sityodtong’s vote of confidence was not what excited Pacio—it’s his promise that there’s going to be a rematch between the two competitors.
“I’m happy he thinks that he won, but that’s his opinion and a lot people also thought that I really didn’t win,” said Pacio in Filipino. “I think to put all the doubts aside, rematch is really the solution.”
“When sir Chatri said that there’s going to be a rematch, it got me going again. I’ve been quiet all day but I got really excited. I can’t wait to go back to training camp.”
Pacio, who left Istorya Senayan early Sunday with a swollen face, admitted that he was outsmarted all the way by Saruta, who has only been in the promotion for two fights but has an extensive resume in the mixed martial circuit.
READ: Joshua Pacio admits to shortcomings in close title loss to Yosuke Saruta
“He used his experience against me. I was surprised by his moves. It was like veteran vs rookie,” said Pacio. “That wasn’t me who was up there. Our game plan wasn’t there. My striking, wrestling and grappling are not like that.”
With a chance to get back at Saruta in the pipeline, the bubbly Pacio has shrugged off his grudges as he prepares to go back to the drawing board.
“In the rematch, I’m going to be different. Next time I’m going to make sure I don’t come out there looking like a rookie. I’m excited to get back to training again and work on all my mistakes from the fight.”