Joshua Pacio feels elated with the strides he’s making in nursing his knee injury.
The reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion is currently sidelined after sustaining a partial tear in his ACL, unfortunate news that was first reported by Tiebreaker Times back in April.
“The Passion” recently provided a comprehensive update on his road to recovery, confirming that everything is right on schedule.
“The recovery’s been well. There are a lot of people who are helping out and are continuing to help out,” he said.
“I’m super motivated to get back. That’s my goal — to finally put on the gloves again, enter the cage, and give the fans an exciting performance.”
To facilitate this, Pacio has committed to a demanding schedule. He leaves his hometown of Baguio City every weekend to allocate his weekdays for therapy sessions in Mandaluyong City.
His regimen includes sessions with physiotherapists at PhysioLab and strength and conditioning training at Tiger City Boxing Gym under the supervision of coaches Jay San Pedro and Ramie “Tex” Gonzaga.
While he’s pleased with the progress, Pacio acknowledges that the mental aspect of his predicament poses the greatest challenge.
As an athlete who has been actively competing since a young age, the sudden halt in his routine has been tough for the 28-year-old.
“What I’m really focusing on now is my mind. It was tough to accept the injury, any athlete will have a hard time accepting injuries like that,” he shared.
“Since I can’t train physically, I have to train my mind. Put myself in positions where I’m fighting. How would you react in that situation? In a way, your mind is still working.”
Yet, with each passing day, he is learning to trust the process and gradually let go of the ordeal.
“Honestly, after my last fight. I really wanted to fight as soon as possible. But someone told me that, ‘Sure, with that injury you can compete, but you have to think about the longevity of your career,’” Pacio recalled.
“Those were my choices. It’s either I compete immediately, or I focus on my longevity. As much as I’m fired up to get back to the ring, I have to focus on my recovery.”
The longer the rehabilitation takes, the more Pacio’s hunger to report for duty intensifies.
Once he receives medical clearance, there’s only one bout on his mind – a rubber match with Jarred Brooks.
Pacio and Brooks are embroiled in an intense rivalry, dating back to December 2022 when the American took away the gold-plated strap from the Filipino superstar.
Both men were able to run it back this past March. But this time around, it ended controversially.
Brooks was disqualified for an illegal head-first slam. This incident allowed Pacio to reclaim the belt, but it left many questions unanswered.
Moreover, Brooks’ recent crowning as the interim titleholder adds more fuel to the fire, making it imperative for the two to settle their unfinished business.
For Pacio, there should be one king ruling over the division.
“I don’t mind if they put in an interim champion. I have already proven my track record as a champion. I cannot wait to prove it again once I get cleared to make my return,” he declared.
