Waiting Game: Jarred Brooks, Joshua Pacio raring to run it back

In the mind of ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks, the only person who could challenge him right now is longtime former divisional king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

That’s why he’s hellbent on facing the Filipino dynamo again and finally putting a lid on the biggest rival Brooks has had in his illustrious career.

Brooks actually beat Pacio convincingly in December of 2022, but the fight was competitive and many felt the Filipino deserved a rematch.

Now the American is using his social media to make it happen.

“Joshua Pacio, I’m hungry, and who else is left to fight,” Brooks said.

“Quit playing if you want your title back, accept [the] fight.”

Their second outing will certainly be a trickier one for Brooks considering Pacio has made some major changes since dropping his belt.

Pacio left Team Lakay to explore other options before joining Eduard Folayang’s Lion’s Nation MMA – the newest squad in the Philippines.

In between those decisions, Pacio also traveled to the United States to train with some of the finest gyms in the country and fill the holes he saw in his first fight with Brooks.

He then made his eventual return, rebounding in a big way by handing the erstwhile unbeaten Mansur Malachiev the first loss of his career via decision.

Make no mistake, Pacio is ready – now it’s all about the formalities.

“There’s still no bout offer,” Pacio responded to Brooks.

Brooks-Pacio 2 In Japan?

Though nothing is concrete, fans who are anxious for a rematch can rest easy knowing that ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong believes a second fight between the two top strawweights could happen soon.

Talking to South China Morning Post last month following Pacio’s victory over Malachiev, Sityodtong said he is looking to promote this match in Japan.

“Most likely this year, but possibly Tokyo,” Sityodtong told SCMP.