Joshua Pacio eyes rematch with Jarred Brooks after win at ONE Fight Night 15

11 October 2023

After a hard-fought match at ONE Fight Night 15 on Prime Video, Joshua Pacio, representing Lions Nation MMA, clinched a unanimous decision victory over Mansur Malachiev. Despite the win, Pacio expressed disappointment in his performance and a desire to return stronger.

“I’m going to go home and rest. I’m eager to go back to the training camp, watch my errors in the fight because honestly, like I said, I was not impressed with my performance, and I need to come back and show people that I really deserve to be a champion again,” said Pacio.

With an eye on redemption and a shot at the title, Pacio acknowledged the possibility of a rematch with ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks. Brooks claimed the belt in December at ONE 164, ending Pacio's over four-year reign as the World Title holder.

While Pacio believes his victory over Malachiev makes a strong case for a rematch with Brooks, he remains critical of his own performance. Despite the eagerness to secure a title bout, Pacio emphasized the need for improvement and growth.

“I think so. But honestly, I’m not impressed with my performance right now. I need to go to the gym again and work harder, you know? I was not relaxed, I was concentrated on throwing the power shots because I saw the damage. And I was eager to throw power shots. So, it really got in my head, to finish him. But that’s not how it was supposed to happen. I should have been more relaxed, throw my combinations more confidently," stated Pacio.

Open to facing any top-five contender in the division, Pacio is determined to showcase his elite skills in the next outing, be it against Brooks, Bokang Masunyane, or another formidable opponent. As he seeks redemption, Pacio remains committed to regaining the championship status he held for a significant part of his career in ONE Championship.