Joshua Pacio reveals biggest mistake in handling ACL injury: “I chose to ignore it”

Reigning ONE strawweight MMA world champion and ex-Team Lakay member 'The Passion' Joshua Pacio of the Philippines has been sitting on the sidelines for almost a year now, as he has battled a lengthy period of inactivity due to injury.

After getting dropped on his head by American rival 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks last March to take back the gold via disqualification, Pacio tore his ACL and had to have surgery.

Now at a hundred percent, 'The Passion' has had a chance to look back on the ordeal and he admitted to making one big mistake.

The Lions Nation MMA co-founder told YouTube channel, The MMA Superfan, in a recent guest appearance:

"Yes. I think after my fight with [Jarred] Brooks, maybe after one or two months when I got back to training, the feeling on my knee was really more noticeable. I felt it when I’m sitting cross-legged on the floor, and I especially felt it when wrestling or grappling."

Pacio added:

"And I also felt this when I was warming up in the dugout in Qatar, before my match with Brooks. I felt it, but I chose to ignore it. Right now, I’m looking for that pain, and that pain is gone. That’s when my confidence came back to grapple, wrestle, and lift heavy weights. So I’m good."

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Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks run it back in world title unification at ONE 171: Qatar

'The Passion' Joshua Pacio and 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks are headed back to the Middle East when they hit ONE 171: Qatar at the Lusail Sports Arena on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.

The two elite strawweights figure in their all-important trilogy match, which also serves as a ONE strawweight MMA world title unification bout.

Fans in the United States and Canada can visit ONE Championship's official website for more information on how to watch from their location.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding the event as it happens.