ONE strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks has been asking for a contender to step up in his division, and his words reached a familiar foe in former divisional kingpin Joshua Pacio.
Now the pair are set to run back their December 2022 brawl when ONE Championship debuts in the Middle East with ONE 166: Qatar on Friday, March 1.
The strawweight MMA firefight is another solid addition to the growing card, and the lack of love between the two fighters involved should lead to a barnburner.
“The Monkey God” stripped Pacio of the ONE strawweight title after a five-round war at ONE 164 in Manila, Philippines to extend his unbeaten run in ONE, and he’s been waiting patiently for a challenger ever since.
“The Passion” secured his chance to rematch Brooks in his return to action after dropping the strap.
He was tasked with taking on previously unbeaten star Mansur Malachiev this past October at ONE Fight Night 15, and he passed the test with flying colors after handing the Russian his first career defeat via unanimous decision.
Having answered the critics, the five-time ONE strawweight champion and top-ranked contender undeniably earned a shot at redemption against Brooks, and he’ll be out to prove the American’s win was nothing more than a blip on March 1.
While Pacio has his sights set on regaining his old title, “The Monkey God” will do everything possible to cement his position atop the stacked division in his first world title defence. It should deliver an action-packed encounter.
ONE 166: Confirmed fights
- Jarred Brooks vs. Joshua Pacio – for strawweight title
- Arjan Bhullar vs. Amir Aliakbari
- Osamah Almarwai vs. Clever Sousa – submission grappling match
