Jeremy Pacatiw, left, with Team Lakay headmaster Mark Sangiao. Photo from Jeremy Pacatiw’s Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Another promising Team Lakay fighter in Jeremy Pacatiw has joined ONE Championship’s roster.
Pacatiw is the third Team Lakay fighter to join ONE in just a span of four months after former Brave Combat Federation bantamweight champion Stephen Loman and teen prospect Jhanlo Sangiao.
“I’m very happy because this has been my dream,” Pacatiw said in Filipino in a video posted by Team Lakay. “Finally, an answered prayer.”
The 25-year-old Pacatiw last fought in December 2019 when he stopped Felipe Efrain in the first round at Brave CF 33. Pacatiw has spent most of his career at Brave CF which has served as his stage from 2016 to 2019.
Pacatiw enters ONE with a 10-4 record and hopes to make a name for himself in one of the biggest mixed martial arts promotions.
“Maybe [I’ll fight at] bantamweight but it depends with coach (Mark Sangiao). if ever, I will fight at bantamweight, there are a lot of high caliber fighters there so whoever ONE gives me, I will accept it,” he said.
“Of course [there’s pressure]. It’s normal to feel pressure but we need to focus and concentrate so that we won’t lose our game plan.”
Pacatiw also vowed to be an even better fighter now as he expects to face stiffer competition at ONE.
“I think the one that they saw before still needed a lot of improvements but now, they’re going to see a different Jeremy.”
Team Lakay, under the tutelage of its founder and coach Mark Sangiao, has produced several world champions at ONE including former two-time lightweight king Eduard Folayang and current strawweight titleholder Joshua Pacio.
