Lions Nation MMA will be busy with a series of fights to start 2025, with Jeremy Pacatiw set to kicks things off for the new Filipino fighting stable.
Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw hopes to set the tone for Lions Nation MMA in what’s looking like a busy stretch for the fledgling stable in 2025.
Pacatiw will eye his third straight victory when he battles Ibragim Dauev in a three-round bantamweight MMA match at ONE Fight Night 28 on February 8 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
A win for Pacatiw would certainly give the team some added fire, especially as his teammates are also set to compete after him.
“Being the first fighter to compete for Lions Nation MMA this year, it’s exciting. I’m tasked to set the tone for the team, and I’m all for it. There really isn’t pressure on my end, it’s more on excitement,” Pacatiw said.
“I know I just have to be ready, physically, emotionally, spiritually, all of that. I’m excited for what this year holds for Lions Nation MMA.”
Less than two weeks after his fight, ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio will unify straps with interim king Jarred Brooks at ONE 171: Qatar on February 20.
On the same night, Kevin Belingon and Bibiano Fernandes will rekindle their rivalry as the former bantamweight kings collide for the fifth time.
Then, on March 23, it’s their gym founder in former two-time ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard Folayang’s turn to revisit his own rivalry with Shinya Aoki for the fourth time at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.
That said, the gym is buzzing to kick off this year, and Pacatiw wouldn’t want it any other way.
“The energy in the gym is beautiful, it’s contagious. It’s very busy right now. Everyone’s really focused on their respective games. Being the first guy to compete, they’re really helping me when it comes to formulating the game plan and preparing for this fight,” Pacatiw said.
“Then of course we have our champ, Joshua, kuya Kevin, kuya Eduard. It’s a busy stretch for us. We’re helping each other, we’re picking each other up, and I hope Stephen [Loman] gets to fight soon.”
With everyone training for a fight, it only motivates Pacatiw even more for Dauev, who’s coming in as the bigger guy in this match. But Pacatiw is preparing well.
Aside from getting to work with some of the best bantamweights in Belingon and the no. 3-ranked Loman, he gets the benefit of training with a fired-up Folayang – who’s now starting his preparations for Aoki and a bigger Honorio Banario – to prepare for his opponent’s reach.
“Of course, since I’m facing a taller opponent, I think he’s 5-foot-10, I’m working with people bigger than me, like kuya Eduard and kuya Honorio,” he said.
“We’re rotating, sometimes I train with Stephen, sometimes I train with kuya Kevin. But most of the time, it’s with kuya Eduard and Honorio.”