Leaving an indelible impression is what ignites Jeremy Pacatiw as he gears up for his first fight in 16 months.
“The Juggernaut” answers the call of duty at ONE Fight Night 21 this Saturday at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
There, he squares off with China’s Wang Shuo in a three-round bantamweight MMA showdown.
For Pacatiw, the rush of excitement is palpable. He has been absent from the limelight since his stunning victory over Tial Thang in December 2022, a performance that earned him a $50,000 bonus.
“I’m quite happy. I haven’t fought in a long time, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the ring. This is an excellent opportunity for me to demonstrate my new skills,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
Despite the lengthy break from the all-encompassing sport, the 27-year-old has been far from idle.
During that stretch, he has spent his time delving into other facets of martial arts, expanding his repertoire.
“It’s the little details, details that we usually miss out normally, that we improve and work on,” Pacatiw shared.
“If one door closes, another door opens. I just made the most out of the situation while I was waiting for my next fight.”
(C) Eduard Folayang
The Kapangan, Benguet native represented the Philippine National Kickboxing Team at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, where he proudly secured a silver medal.
Moreover, Pacatiw seized the chance to deepen his understanding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Under the guidance of Prof. Gibran Langbayan, he earned his blue belt and went on to claim two gold medals at the ASJJF Manila Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023.
Now, the Lions Nation MMA representative is eager to showcase the fruits of his labor this weekend.
“I feel like I’m more of a complete fighter now. I’m happy because I get all the assistance that I need in this camp,” he stated.
“Sure, there’s a slight disadvantage. I haven’t competed for quite some time, so there’s that. But I have always been diligent. I’ve always looked to develop what needs to be developed despite being on the sidelines.”
Armed with newfound skills and experiences, Pacatiw exudes confidence that he will be able to overcome the challenges posed by Wang.
While he doesn’t have a specific finish in mind against Wang, Pacatiw’s main objective is to set the momentum by demonstrating his improvement as a competitor.
“I don’t know how it will end, but my prediction is that my hands will be raised after this fight, whether it be by finish or decision; I really don’t care,” he stressed.
“If there’s an opportunity for the finish, I’ll definitely go for it. But as long as things are going well for me, I don’t need to rush. What’s important is that I demonstrate my improvements as a mixed martial artist.”
