As Jeremy Pacatiw gears up for his return to the ring after a 16-month hiatus, the anticipation surrounding his comeback is palpable.
“The Juggernaut” is booked to square off against China’s Wang Shuo in a bantamweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 21, emanating live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand this Saturday.
The 27-year-old native of Kapangan, Benguet was last seen in action when he submitted Tial Thang with a triangle choke in the second round of their December 2022 encounter, pocketing a $50,000 performance bonus.
Many are concerned that the proverbial ring rust may come into play for Pacatiw’s upcoming bout. However, his stablemates at Lions Nation MMA view it through a different lens altogether.
Among his staunchest supporters is former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard Folayang.
The veteran known as “The Face of Philippine MMA” has closely monitored Pacatiw’s activity during his time away from the limelight.
“I still have a lot of faith in Jeremy, even if he hasn’t fought in a while. Even though he was waiting for a call, he has consistently looked for ways to improve,” Folayang told Tiebreaker Times.
Rather than allowing himself to stagnate during his layoff, Pacatiw utilized his time commendably, immersing himself in different spectrums of martial arts.
He notably competed for the Philippine National Kickboxing Team at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, clinching a silver medal in the process.
Moreover, he seized the opportunity to expand his knowledge of Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the tutelage of Prof. Gibran Langbayan.
Pacatiw’s dedication to his craft has also caught the attention of Joshua Pacio.
In fact, Pacatiw extended a helping hand when Pacio prepared for his rematch against Jarred Brooks this past March.
(C) Eduard Folayang
“I can honestly say he’s more motivated than ever. You can tell by the fire in his eyes and his constant display of his explosiveness in training,” Pacio stated.
“Whether he’s the one helping in camp or training for his own fight, you can see that Jeremy strives to level up.”
Now, the current ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion reciprocates the same amount of support as Pacatiw gets a chance to perform on the global stage again.
“He has been in training for a long time. He was there for me when I needed training partners for my last fight. Now, this is the opportunity for him to demonstrate what he’s learned and worked hard for,” Pacio expressed.
Both Folayang and Pacio are confident in Pacatiw’s chances to emerge triumphant against Wang this weekend.
Folayang believes Pacatiw’s versatility as a competitor is what sets him apart in the matchup.
“Wang is a striker, and Jeremy is also a striker. But let’s not forget that Jeremy won his last fight by submission,” he reminded.
“This is MMA, and if Jeremy can utilize the other facets of the sport in his favor, it will give him an advantage.”
“Landslide” even goes as far as foreseeing the possibility of Pacatiw securing another lucrative incentive.
“The fact that Jeremy received a bonus before, I think, motivates him to perform even better this time around,” Folayang stressed.
“Of course, he understands that if he does well, he will be rewarded. So the reward may further fuel his desire to win.”
Meanwhile, Pacio predicts that Pacatiw may wrap things up in the same way he finished Thang over a year ago.
“I see Jeremy winning in spectacular fashion. It’s possible he can win this in the first or second round by submission,” Pacio shared.
