Team Lakay Dominates At ONE: REVOLUTION

Overtime Heroics Editorial

614 days ago

All fans of ONE Championship will no doubt have fond memories of the Team Lakay that dominated through late 2018, with no less than four Champions. During that dominant run, we witnessed the famed team having Eduard Folayang (Lightweight champion), Kevin Belingon (Bantamweight champion), Geje Eustaquio (Flyweight champion) and Joshua Pacio (Strawweight champion). Only one of this dominant set of champions remains with the gold and that’s Joshua Pacio.

Joshua Pacio is currently joined in bringing back the glory days by fellow Filipino kickboxing sensation Lito Adiwang, both these men successfully represented Team Lakay at ONE: REVOLUTION on the 24th of September 2021. Both exciting fighters dominated, offering an exciting glimpse of things to come for Team Lakay.

Adiwang vs Hexigetu

One of many devastating kicks landed by Adiwang on his way to victory

In the headline bout of the ONE: REVOLUTION Lead Card, Team Lakay kicked off their evening with Lito Adiwang who came into this fight looking to make a statement. That, a statement he made, relentlessly blasting Hexigetu with a barrage of kicks with devastating effect, dominating his opponent for three rounds to win a very comfortable unanimous decision. The Filipino firecracker’s thrilling performance set the tone for an action-packed main card.

Pacio vs Saruta

Pacio drops Saruta with a huge left hand

In what was the first of three world title contests, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio completely overwhelmed the highly regarded #1-ranked contender Yosuke Saruta with a barrage of punches on the way to a hugely impressive and exhilarating first-round knockout, finishing the trilogy in style.

The longtime rivals, right from the bell, opened the match trading strikes at the center of the circle, with the Japanese fighter attempting to push the pace and looking for an opening. Pacio was happy to be patient and looking for the counter. It was then after Pacio landed a perfect left hook while Saruta threw a lazy low kick. Saruta was clearly hurt with the left hand, and like a shark sensing blood, the champion Joshua Pacio swarmed his opponent and swiftly completed the impressive finish, and retained his championship.

With such an impressive night of fighting for ONE Championship and specifically Team Lakay, what’s next for these talented fighters, and can they return the success of 2018 back to the legendary Team Lakay?

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Featured Image Credits to ONE Championship PR