Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw knows that there would be some adjustment for him after a long layoff as he returns at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas to take on “Little Whirlwind” Wang Shuo this April 6 inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
But despite his lengthy inactivity inside the ONE Circle, the Igorot fighter didn’t really stop working on his game.
“Sure there’s a slight disadvantage. I haven’t competed for quite some time so there’s that,” he said. “But I have always been diligent, I’ve always looked to develop what needs to be developed despite being on the sidelines.”
He elaborated: “I’ve continued to grow in kickboxing and BJJ. Last year, I had a good run in kickboxing and I was able to participate in the Southeast Asian Games where I’ve learned a lot of things. It’s all about expanding your knowledge in these sports, particularly in jiu jitsu. It’s the little details, details that we usually miss out normally, that we improve and work on.”
It was in December 2022 when Pacatiw last fought, delivering an impressive second round submission victory over “The Dragon Leg” Tial Thang at ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks to earn a US$50,000 performance bonus.
Now, he’s looking to put it all together when he collides again in their bantamweight showdown.
Adding to his confidence is that this will mark Pacatiw’s new chapter under the Lions Nation MMA banner.
“I’m excited. We’re a new team and we’re always looking to prove our worth. There’s pressure for sure, being in a new team people will always look at us and have these expectations. So what we’re doing now is we just continue to refine what we have and improve on where we can,” he said.
“This has been a collaborative effort in this team. Everyone’s open to suggestions. I believe we have that chemistry in this team, that’s what makes this work. They’ve always been supportive in my training.”
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