Overview
- Yuya Wakamatsu defends the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title against strawweight champion Joshua Pacio at ONE 173 on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
- The bout marks Wakamatsu’s first defense since his first-round knockout of Adriano Moraes to claim the vacant belt in March 2025.
- Pacio moves up from strawweight holding a 14-4 promotional record with nine finishes as he seeks to become a two-division champion.
- Wakamatsu forecast a knockout and said he wants to showcase his stand-up before finishing with ground-and-pound if needed.
- Pacio said the Tokyo setting will not affect him and outlined confidence in winning by knockout, submission, or on the scorecards; the main card streams via PPV at 11 p.m. ET on November 15 in the U.S. and Canada.