ONE Strawweight champion Joshua Pacio and rising star Lito Adiwang came up with convincing wins in 2019 that demonstrated Team Lakay’s potential stronghold in the strawweight division for a considerable amount of time.
Pacio started the year on a sour note as he yielded his title to Japan’s Yosuke Saruta in his first defense in January. The bout’s split decision result, however, was so controversial that ONE CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong declared his belief of Pacio winning the bout and immediately ordered a rematch.
Pacio proved the loss was a fluke as he went on to register his fifth win by knockout as a result of a head kick to Saruta in the second round last April.
He added another feather in his cap by successfully defending his title by forcing compatriot Rene Catalan to tap out to an arm triangle last November, registering his eight win by submission.
Pacio, who is about to turn 24 on January 2020, is not going anywhere yet but stay on the throne at his age. With his success early in his career, he will always be a tough out by any threat.
And if by any means, he will yield his crown again, his age will always make the rematch option a nice route to make the adjustments and to take the title back. He has a total 15 wins against 3 losses in his career so far.
Meanwhile, Lito Adiwang is another strawweight Team Lakay fighter who is showing long-term promise at this division.
Adiwang, a newly installed regular fighter in ONE, is putting himself in the conversation of who will be a worthy challenger for the title.
In contrast to Pacio, the “Thunder Kid” started the year with a bang, scoring a knockout victory over Alberto Correia in just 45 seconds last February in ONE Warriors Series, a search for MMA fighters who can be offered a $100,000 contract and a spot on the ONE Championship roster.
This was at the heels of another stunning first-round knockout of Manuel Huerta on October 2018.
Adiwang became a prospect no more on August after a masterful unanimous decision victory against Anthony Do.
His third consecutive ONE Warrior Series win and earned him a $100,000 contract and a spot in the ONE roster as a legitimate regular strawweight campaigner.
Adiwang finished the year by kicking off his ONE career with an explosion, retiring Senzo Ikeda with a first round finish last October at Tokyo, Japan.
With Adiwang reportedly only 26 years old, the Team Lakay duo have all the chances to continue their stronghold in the division and could even be on an unavoidable collision course far into the future.
These two , along with Stephen Loman, ruler of the Brave Combat Federation Bantamwieght division, are rightful contenders if Team Lakay is to give an award for the Fighter of the Year.
As usual among Team Lakay fighters, Adiwang expressed dislike on the idea of him challenging Pacio for belt and is willing to wait for his turn, showing how closely knit this team is relating to their brotherhood.
By Armando M. Bolislis
Banner photo courtesy of ONE Championship