Relive Joshua Pacio's hybrid head kick-knee strike that spelled Yosuke Saruta's demise
ONE strawweight MMA king Joshua Pacio is considered one of the most lethal strikers in his division for good reason. Thankfully, we have a lot of video footage online highlighting his best work.
The Filipino superstar always fares well in fights because he's a masterful tactician. He never throws a strike without intention - and that makes him an exciting champion to watch.
This week, ONE Championship paid tribute to one of Pacio's most cerebral knockouts on Instagram with a caption that read:
"Joshua Pacio delivered a DEVASTATING knee @joshuapacio."
The Instagram clip above has sparked a massive reaction from fans online. Here's how they assessed Joshua Pacio's highlight-reel finish below:
Watch the full fight between Pacio and Saruta II below:
Filipino superstar Joshua Pacio on a fast track to recovery following ACL tear during training
If you're wondering lately why we haven't seen Joshua Pacio return to action, it's because he's on a long road to recovery, after suffering a partial tear in his ACL during training.
It's been about five months since the incident first popped up in the news. Like many athletes in his position, Pacio has had to watch the strawweight MMA division move on without him.
In his absence, Jarred Brooks won the interim strawweight MMA world title against Gustavo Balart, by way of a first-round submission at ONE Fight Night 24. Now, the only thing next on Pacio's to-do list is to get clearance from the medical team, and then unify his belt with Jarred Brooks in a trilogy matchup for the ages.
The replay of ONE Fight Night 24 is available on demand for Prime Video subscribers in North America.