Joshua Pacio won’t be reporting for duty in the foreseeable future.
Tiebreaker Times has obtained a medical document revealing that the 28-year-old Baguio City native suffered an ACL tear in his right knee, a serious injury with significant implications for an athlete of his caliber.
Sources close to the situation suggest that the injury might have occurred during Pacio’s intense preparations for his highly anticipated rematch against Jarred Brooks at ONE 166 this past March.
An insider information has indicated that the Lions Nation MMA representative had been experiencing pain in his right knee weeks before his scheduled flight to Qatar.
Despite initial concerns raised by a doctor who suspected an ACL tear, Pacio and his team decided to push through.
The bout itself ended in controversial fashion, with Pacio recapturing the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship via disqualification after Brooks executed an illegal takedown that resulted in the Filipino superstar landing headfirst on the mat.
A few weeks after the fight, Pacio underwent a follow-up MRI to evaluate his neck condition, during which it was confirmed that he had indeed sustained an ACL injury.
“The Passion” also faces a cervicomuscular strain in his neck, necessitating rest and therapy.
The timing couldn’t be more unfortunate as talks of a rubber match between Pacio and Brooks were circulating for either ONE Championship’s Denver event in September or the Atlanta card in November.
Tiebreaker Times has been told that Pacio will likely go under the knife for an ACL reconstruction surgery in May.
The timeline for his return to competitive action remains uncertain, with an average recovery period ranging from eight months to a year.
In light of Pacio’s absence, ONE Championship may consider crowning an interim champion to hold up the fort for the division.
Brooks could find himself in contention for the interim strap, facing off against the next available contender in the bracket’s Top Five.
Tiebreaker Times will continue to monitor developments surrounding Pacio’s injury and provide updates as they unfold.
