Japan remains the one frontier Joshua Pacio has yet to conquer.
On Nov. 18, the 30-year-old Baguio City native heads to Tokyo to defend his ONE strawweight MMA world title against Keito Yamakita at ONE Samurai 5, with a mission that extends beyond retaining his throne atop the weight class.
There, he wants to break the so-called "Japan curse," a troubling trend of Filipino fighters struggling against Japanese opponents on their home soil.
For Pacio, the assignment is deeply personal.
Nearly a year ago, Tokyo delivered the most devastating defeat of his career when Yuya Wakamatsu knocked him out in the second round, denying him the chance to become the first Filipino mixed martial artist to hold two divisional crowns simultaneously.
Now, Pacio has an opportunity to move beyond that painful memory and confront a narrative that has followed Filipinos for years.
The setting is almost uncomfortably familiar. He battled Wakamatsu at Ariake Arena, just 16.3 kilometers from EBARA WAVE Arena Ota, where he is scheduled to headline his upcoming title bout against Yamakita.
In that matchup, a right hand left Pacio dazed before Wakamatsu unleashed a torrent of follow-up knees on the ground, prompting the referee to stop the contest.
It was the Filipino's first knockout loss and a crushing end to his bid for double-championship glory.
Yet the setback did not diminish his conviction about fighting in Japan again.
"There is a reason I am fighting in Japan again, and I know what it is. I know my purpose for going back," Pacio told ESPN.
Japanese opponents have played recurring roles in his career. Yoshitaka Naito, Hayato Suzuki, Yosuke Saruta and Wakamatsu have all tested him at crucial points, forcing him to adapt and refine his craft.
Despite the difficulties those feuds have presented, Pacio believes Japanese fighters have helped bring out the best in him.
"First, it is the heart of Japanese fighters. Then there is their perseverance. Even if they lose a round, they keep fighting in the next and continue until the very end. They still find a way to win," he said.
"Their perseverance and respect for their opponents are what stand out to me."
That admiration comes with an understanding of the obstacles Filipino athletes have confronted on Japanese soil.
Pacio's teammates Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario and Danny Kingad have also experienced the difficulty of facing local opposition in the country.
Kingad and Lito Adiwang, however, have beaten Senzo Ikeda in separate bouts in Japan in 2019, demonstrating that success there is possible.
For Pacio, the discussion surrounding the so-called curse is impossible to ignore.
After his fight with Yamakita was announced this past August, he saw fans urging him not to leave the outcome in the hands of the judges.
"I saw people commenting that if you fight in Japan, you have to win by knockout and cannot leave it to the judges," he said.
"That is understandable because people have seen how things can go on the big stage, especially in boxing. It is not just an MMA concern."
Such expectations can serve as both motivation and a burden. Despite years of competing at the highest level, Pacio admits that overthinking remains a challenge during his preparation.
His response is to lean on faith, sharpen his focus, and shut out thoughts that could undermine his confidence.
"Sometimes, it is all in your head, especially when you overthink things. I have been in this sport for many years, but I still overthink," he said.
"For me, it comes down to my faith and my focus. Nothing can beat you when you are truly focused. I am setting aside the thoughts that could lead me toward a negative mindset."
Beyond the litmus test against Yamakita, Pacio wants to demonstrate how much he has developed as a fighter, making adjustments without needing a loss to reveal what must improve.
His first shot at the strawweight strap ended in defeat against Naito in Yangon, Myanmar, in 2016. Two years later, he avenged that loss in Jakarta, Indonesia to finally claim the intricately crafted belt.
His rivalry with Saruta also took three encounters to settle, with Pacio winning their final two bouts.
He no longer wants to rely on a rematch to prove he has learned from adversity.
"I do not want to have to wait for a rematch to make adjustments," Pacio said. "Before, I would lose, then beat my opponent in the rematch. I have seen how much I have grown, and I am still improving. I want to show that I can make those adjustments without needing a rematch."
Yamakita is the immediate obstacle, but the broader significance lies in defying a history of setbacks for Filipino fighters competing in Japan.
As one of the most accomplished Filipino fighters in history, 'The Passion' is uniquely positioned to change that perception.
A victory would not erase the setbacks Pacio and his compatriots have endured, but it would show that the so-called curse can be broken.
"I am so focused, and I have faith that I will win on Nov. 18," Pacio said.
Tokyo once denied him a place in history. Now, he has the chance to rewrite his story and overcome the hurdle that has eluded him.