Lions Nation MMA is gearing up for a pivotal juncture that will determine the trajectory of this startup stable.
Joshua Pacio — one of the team’s respected co-founders — is set to challenge Jarred Brooks for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title in a rematch at ONE 166, taking place at the magnificent Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar on Friday.
The story began in early 2023 when Pacio, Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario decided to take a bold step by leaving the familiar grounds of Team Lakay to establish Lions Nation MMA.
So far, the group has garnered mixed success on the ONE Championship stage. Now, they face a litmus test.
Although Pacio, Folayang, Belingon, and Banario have been longtime teammates and were world champions, preparing for a high-profile bout as an independent unit is uncharted territory.
Despite the enormity of the challenge, Folayang expresses confidence in Pacio and the team’s readiness for the task at hand.
His confidence stems from the comprehensive training camp that Lions Nation MMA has diligently crafted for Pacio. They prioritized a holistic approach, covering technical skills, conditioning, and nutrition to ensure that “The Passion” is in peak form when he runs it back with Brooks.
“We made an effort to give Joshua a solid camp for this fight. He has this vision for a training camp that would address his needs, and it’s our duty to provide him with that,” Folayang told Tiebreaker Times.
“And we did — at least 85 to 90 percent of how he imagined it. I’m happy with how it turned out.”
(C) ONEFC.com
Pacio’s initial encounter with the outspoken American in December 2022 ended in a disappointing loss, providing Lions Nation MMA with crucial insights.
Recognizing the need for meticulous planning, the La Trinidad, Benguet-based brigade has left no stone unturned.
Folayang disclosed that they have addressed every aspect of Pacio’s preparation, learning from the setbacks and adjusting their strategy accordingly.
“The attention to detail is crucial when you enter this type of matchup. It ranges from having the best plan of attack to having the right contingency plan,” he stated.
“In a fight, there will be adjustments. At the same time, unexpected situations are often unavoidable. It’s how you respond to it and rise to the occasion. That’s what we want to see in Joshua when he faces Jarred Brooks again.”
But beyond the physical preparations, it is Pacio’s burning desire for redemption that fuels Folayang’s optimism.
For “The Landslide,” Pacio’s relentless drive to finally beat Brooks will be the decisive factor.
“You can really see and feel the hunger to win. In fact, he even trained during the holiday season and on Sundays for this one. It’s a testament to his determination. He really wants the belt back,” Folayang shared.
At the moment, Folayang likes their chances of mounting an intricately crafted belt on the walls of the Landslide Martial Arts Training Center — the current home base of Lions Nation MMA.
“By God’s grace, we will have a Filipino world champion in MMA again,” he said.
