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Nicolas Atkin

All Martial Arts content – including ONE Championship coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
Joshua Pacio will challenge Jarred Brooks for the ONE Championship strawweight MMA title in early 2024.
Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed the match-up during an interview with the Post this week.
“The Monkey Good” swiped the belt from Pacio on the Filipino’s home turf in Manila last December, taking a dominant unanimous decision at the Mall of Asia Arena.
American Brooks has yet to defend the belt, but “The Passion” earned a chance at reclaiming it by defeating No 5-ranked Mansur Malachiev last month in Bangkok.

“I’m not supposed to say this because it’s not been confirmed. But Jarred Brooks versus Joshua Pacio II is happening early next year,” Chatri said.
“I was just in a matchmaking meeting and they were going through a bunch of different matchups, but that’s happening and it’s going to get announced very soon.”
ONE: Christian Lee set to return in February for title defence
The 30-year-old Brooks returned to action in August, but for a submission grappling match against flyweight champion Mikey Musumeci, who von via arm bar.
Brooks then took to social media to call out almost every challenger in his division, until now to no avail.
“Joshua Pacio, I am more than willing and ready to fight you in a month, two months, it doesn’t matter,” he said in a recent video post on Instagram.
“But there’s that timeline for you, bro. I hope you’re ready. Let’s go. Come for me? I’m coming for you, baby.”

He also tagged the former champion in another post, suggesting he was not willing to keep waiting around for Pacio to sign a bout agreement.
“I’m hungry, and who else is left to fight!? Quit playing if you want your title back, accept a fight!” Brooks wrote.
The 27-year-old Pacio, for his part, has kept largely quiet, but expressed interest in the rematch after beating Russia’s Malachiev. “If they give it to me, yes,” the soft-spoken Pacio told the Post.
Pacio is also certain he will perform better the second time around, after failing to trouble the American in Manila.
“Your prediction is wrong, man,” he said, responding to Brooks’ forecast of a second-round finish for the rematch. “I promise in my next outing I’ll be more impressive.”


ONE Championship: Ayaka Miura v Macarena Aragon, 2 other bouts complete line-up for ONE 169

ONE Championship: Tawanchai PKSaenchaigym puts title on line at scene of Russell Crowe film

ONE Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon wary of ‘slow’ but durable Jacob Smith in title bout

ONE Championship: Anissa Meksen hopes to cap off career with strawweight kickboxing crown

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Joshua Pacio vs Jarred Brooks rematch set for early 2024

Joshua Pacio (left) applauds after Jarred Brooks is announced as the winner of their title fight in Manila. Photos: ONE Championship

Joshua Pacio celebrates his win over Mansur Malachiev. 

Jarred Brooks talks to Mitch Chilson after winning the ONE strawweight MMA title. 

ONE Championship: Christian Lee set to return in February for title defence

Christian Lee holds his two ONE Championship title belts after beating Kiamrian Abbasov in November 2022. Photos: ONE Championship

Christian Lee finishes Kiamrian Abbasov.

Christian Lee with his family and team in the ring at Singapore Indoor Stadium after beating Kiamrian Abbasov.

Christian Lee celebrates after regaining the ONE lightweight MMA title in Singapore from Ok Rae-yoon.

ONE Championship: Hong Kong Muay Thai fighter Yu Yau-pui earns US$100,000 contract with TKO

Yu Yau Pui breaks down in tears after being awarded a US$100,000 ONE contract. Photos: ONE Championship

Yu Yau Pui lands a right hand on Zehra Dogan.

Yu Yau Pui’s arm is raised after her TKO of Zehra Dogan.

ONE Championship: Superlek to defend flyweight kickboxing title, Takeru debut set to be confirmed

Superlek celebrates his decision win over Rodtang. Photo: ONE Championship

Elias Mahmoudi stands over Edgar Tabares after knocking him down. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship is set to announce a return to Japan for early 2024. Takeru Segawa (right) is expected to feature on the card. Photo: Abema

ONE Championship: Nico Carrillo ‘just needs to find Nong-O’s chin once’ says coach, ‘then we move on to Haggerty’

Nico Carrillo lands a punch on Muangthai. Photos: ONE Championship

Nico Carrillo hugs his coach JP Gallacher ahead of his fight against Muangthai.

Nico Carrillo returns for his first fight after earning a US$100,000 contract by knocking out Muangthai at ONE Friday Fights 22 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok in June.

ONE Championship moves Qatar debut, confirms Japan return for early 2024

CEO Chatri Sityodtong at the ONE Fight Night 6 press conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: ONE Championship

Takeru Segawa (right) is set to make his ONE Championship in Tokyo. Photo: Abema

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts

CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong says strawweight champion Brooks will defend his belt against the former king Pacio
‘I hope you’re ready. Let’s go. Come for me? I’m coming for you, baby,’ American tells his Filipino rival ahead of showdown


CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong says strawweight champion Jarred Brooks will defend his belt against the former king Joshua Pacio.


ONE Championship: Joshua Pacio vs Jarred Brooks rematch set for early 2024

CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong says strawweight champion Brooks will defend his belt against the former king Pacio ‘I hope you’re ready. Let’s go. Come for me? I’m coming for you, baby,’ American tells his Filipino rival ahead of showdown

CEO and chairman Chatri Sityodtong says strawweight champion Brooks will defend his belt against the former king Pacio

‘I hope you’re ready. Let’s go. Come for me? I’m coming for you, baby,’ American tells his Filipino rival ahead of showdown