Joshua Pacio To Defend ONE Strawweight MMA World Title Against Keito Yamakita At ONE SAMURAI 5
ONE Championship has revealed a blockbuster bout as reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio will defend his crown against Japanese star Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita.
The highly anticipated title clash will take place at ONE SAMURAI 5 on Wednesday, November 18, live from EBARA WAVE Arena Ota in Tokyo, Japan.
The matchup represents the latest chapter in the strawweight MMA division’s ongoing evolution as the legendary champion puts his 26 pounds of gold on the line against one of the division’s most dangerous challengers.
Pacio has cemented his legacy as the most dominant strawweight in MMA history. The 30-year-old Filipino warrior holds an impressive 24-5 career MMA record with 19 wins via finish and a remarkable 15-5 mark in the promotion that includes 10 highlight-reel finishes.
Coming from a wushu background, Pacio has won the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship on three separate occasions, making him one of only two men to have had three reigns with the same World Title in ONE history. His average bout duration in the world’s largest martial arts organization sits just above six minutes, speaking volumes about his finishing ability both on the ground and on his feet.
The Lions Nation MMA representative claimed his first title at the age of 22 in a rematch against Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito in 2018. He lost the belt in his first defense against Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta but reclaimed it later that same year via knockout. Since then, he defended the belt three times before losing to Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks in 2022.
In 2024, Pacio captured the title for the third time in a rematch against Brooks. After that, he unified the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship against “The Monkey God” in a trilogy at ONE 171: Qatar in 2025, solidifying his status as the division’s undisputed kingpin.
Now, Pacio is coming off an incredible first-round submission of Mansur Malachiev in July this year, showcasing that the legendary champion remains as dangerous as ever.
Yamakita presents a formidable challenge as one of the strawweight division’s most dangerous grapplers. The 30-year-old Japanese wrestler from Reversal Gym Shinjuku Me and We holds a 13-1 career record with six finishes and a perfect 6-1 promotional slate.
Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, Yamakita has compiled victories over several of the division’s biggest names, including former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva and Saruta.
The Japanese submission specialist made his professional MMA debut at the age of 23, compiling a perfect 7-0 record before entering ONE in 2023. Since joining the promotion, Yamakita has consistently showcased his world-class grappling by taking opponents to the ground and applying submissions to secure victories.
The ONE Strawweight MMA World Title clash promises to be a stylistic battle as Pacio’s well-rounded striking and submission expertise meet Yamakita’s dominant wrestling and ground control.
For Pacio, a successful defense would further cement his legacy as one of the greatest World Champions in ONE history. For Yamakita, a victory over the legendary Filipino would announce his arrival at the elite level and establish him as the division’s new king.
