Lito Adiwang shares one key improvement in Joshua Pacio’s game that made him a better fighter: “That’s what I saw”

ONE Championship strawweight MMA sensation and former Team Lakay standout 'Thunder Kid' Lito Adiwang of the Philippines is impressed by the massive improvement of his friend and former training partner 'The Passion' Joshua Pacio.

Pacio is currently the ONE strawweight MMA world champion. In his fight against Russia's Mansur Malachiev, 'The Passion' showcased exactly why he sits at the top of the divisional throne.

Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, Adiwang talked about Pacio's development as a fighter.

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'Thunder Kid' said:

"That’s what I saw as Joshua’s improvements when I saw him fight Mansur. When Mansur shoots, he either counters or defends and counters. That’s the thing that I saw him improve, his movement from there."

Takedown defense is indeed very important in this game, where just an inch could spell the difference between victory and defeat. Adiwang knows that wrestling is an integral part of a fighter's skill set, and he believes Pacio's focus on this area has paid dividends.

Adiwang believes, in particular, that Pacio's improved wrestling will bode him well in an eventual world title unification bout against ONE interim strawweight MMA world titleholder 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks in the future.

Lito Adiwang praises Jarred Brooks: "He's more consistent"

'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks took home the interim strawweight MMA strap earlier this year with a submission victory over former Cuban Olympian Gustavo 'El Gladiador' Balart. That immediately set up a unification bout with 'The Passion' Joshua Pacio.

And while Adiwang sees much improvement in Pacio's skills, he sees the same in Brooks. 'Thunder Kid' told Sportskeeda MMA:

"It’s very unlike his fight with me, where I felt he was already gassed in the first round, even though he was able to showcase his power. That’s his biggest improvement, in my opinion - he has already adjusted to the weight system, so he’s more consistent in using his strengths."