ONE 166: Jarred Brooks Defends Title Against Joshua Pacio in Qatar

LockerRoom Team

31 Dec 2023

In a much-anticipated showdown, reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred "The Monkey God" Brooks is gearing up for his inaugural title defense against a familiar adversary in former strawweight MMA king and current #1-ranked contender, Joshua "The Passion" Pacio. The epic rematch is slated to take centre stage at ONE 166: Qatar, marking ONE Championship's inaugural event in the Middle East. The action unfolds live from the Lusail Sports Arena on Friday, March 1.

After engaging in a war of words on social media for several months, Brooks and Pacio finally collided in their initial encounter at ONE 164 in December 2022, hosted in Manila, Philippines. On that thrilling night, Brooks showcased exceptional tactical prowess, seamlessly blending his formidable wrestling skills with an evolving striking arsenal. The result was a unanimous decision victory over Pacio, securing the coveted ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship for the American.

Sporting an impressive record of 20-2 (1 NC) and boasting an unbeaten streak across four MMA contests within ONE Championship, Brooks now stands at the precipice of a potential reign as a long-term strawweight king. However, he faces the critical task of proving that his triumph over the Filipino stud was no mere stroke of luck.

On the flip side, 27-year-old Filipino sensation Joshua Pacio has already etched his name as one of the division's greatest fighters, holding the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship an unprecedented five times. Following the setback against Brooks in December 2022, Pacio underwent significant changes. Departing from his long-time gym, Team Lakay, he joined forces with Eduard Folayang to train at the renowned Jackson Wink MMA Academy in the United States and co-launched Lions Nation MMA.

Pacio rebounded with a statement victory, handing previously undefeated Russian phenom Mansur Malachiev his first loss at ONE Fight Night 15 in October. Now the #1-ranked contender in the strawweight MMA division, Pacio earns another shot at redemption against Brooks and the opportunity to reclaim the 26 pounds of gold he once proudly held.

Given the intensity of their first battle, fans can anticipate nothing short of an all-out war in this high-stakes rematch. Both athletes have undoubtedly honed their skills over the past year, promising a thrilling spectacle at ONE 166: Qatar.