Joshua Pacio’s ‘Passion Lock’ Forces Pongsiri Mitsatit To Tap

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit brought a wealth of striking experience to the cage, but it was a sensational submission that ignited the crowd at ONE REIGN OF KINGS.

Pacio submitted his foe in the first round with a move he dubbed “The Passion Lock” to hand “Smiling Assassin” his first career defeat inside the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, the Philippines on 27 July.

The highly-anticipated strawweight clash began tentatively, as both athletes showed respect for the stand-up skills of their opponent.

As soon a Mitsatit engaged with the man from Team Lakay, his low kick was countered, and he was taken to the mat.

The Thai quickly found himself in deeper waters as Pacio stepped into mount and pummelled him with elbows and punches.

It was not long before the Filipino progressed to take Mitsatit’s back, but the Thai did well to defend the choke attempts that came his way.

However, Pacio’s solution was to revert to a more creative shoulder lock submission, as he torqued his adversary’s arm high behind his back, and swiftly forced the tap.

Speaking post-match with Mitch Chilson, he was asked what the technique was, and dubbed it “The Passion Lock,” revealing it was a new addition to his arsenal.

“I tried it once in the gym, and thought it would be best to showcase it here in ONE Championship,” he said.

The 22-year-old improved his professional mixed martial arts record to an impressive 12-2, and pushed his win streak to three straight bouts as he aims for another shot at the ONE Strawweight World Title held by Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito.

Mitsatit experienced his first taste of defeat in the cage, but it came at the hands of one of the strawweight division’s top competitors. Expect the young striker to return and to action soon to redeem himself.