Jarred Brooks, the former ONE strawweight MMA world champion, finds himself in a unique situation. Despite having the utmost respect for the current divisional king, Joshua Pacio, Brooks believes their rematch is inevitable.
The Controversial Showdown
Brooks and Pacio faced off for the second time at ONE 166: Qatar last March. The highly anticipated bout ended in controversy when ‘The Monkey God’ (Brooks) executed an illegal move, spiking the Filipino star on his head. As a result, Brooks was disqualified, and Pacio was awarded the strawweight MMA belt.
Mutual Respect and Unfinished Business
In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Brooks expressed his respect for Pacio as a champion, fighter, and fellow Christian. He stated, “No athlete wants to see another athlete almost potentially die in the ring. But we’re gonna have to run that back sometime. He’s the champ, and he can’t be sitting on that belt indefinitely.”
Pacio’s Hiatus and Jarred Brooks’ Opportunity
Unfortunately, Pacio is currently on hiatus due to a knee injury, leaving the rematch on hold. However, Brooks won’t be idle. He’s set to face Gustavo Balart for the interim strawweight MMA world title at ONE Fight Night 24.
The event will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fans eagerly await the day when Brooks and Pacio step into the cage once more. Until then, the mutual respect between these warriors fuels the anticipation for a rematch that will erase all doubt.