The Stars Predict Joshua Pacio Vs. Jarred Brooks At ONE 164 On December 3
By the time ONE Championship finishes its 2022 calendar of events this weekend, everyone will find out who the best strawweight MMA fighter on the planet truly is.
This Saturday, December 3, ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio will defend his coveted belt against #1-ranked contender Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks in the main event of ONE 164.
Though he is only 26 years old, Pacio has established himself as the longest-reigning strawweight king in ONE Championship history. The Filipino is a record-setting four-time ONE Strawweight World Champion who holds a 20-3 professional record and owns an 84 percent finishing rate.
But now, he’ll face the toughest test of his career in Brooks. The 29-year-old American dynamo holds a 19-2 (1 NC) slate, and he has demolished all of his opponents inside the Circle, including Pacio’s Team Lakay stablemate Lito Adiwang and top-ranked strawweight contenders Hiroba Minowa and Bokang Masunyane.
Ahead of their main event showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, our MMA stars predict which man will leave ONE 164 with 26 pounds of gold around his waist.
Christian Lee
“That’s going to be an exciting fight. Pacio is a very talented fighter. He’s got good striking, he can scramble, and he’s got crafty submissions. I think that Jarred Brooks is going to have a tough fight ahead of him. I think that Pacio is going to keep his strap.”
Bokang Masunyane
“I think Jarred has a better chance of winning this matchup. Both Joshua and Jarred are great fighters, but I think Jarred has more tools in his arsenal compared to Joshua. I’m definitely going to be watching this fight closely, as I’d like to be next in line for the title fight.”
Gustavo Balart
“Joshua Pacio vs. Jarred Brooks is a great fight. Both are high-level athletes who push at a tremendous pace. I appreciate the striking techniques of Pacio, and I think Brooks will try to change levels and make the fight into a dogfight. I am not sure who will win, as the fight is very close. But the winner will be a true champion, and I would like to face the winner.”
Danial Williams
“Brain says Brooks. He’s more active and has fought [and] beaten experienced opponents. But heart says Pacio. He’s the champ, Filipinos can scrap, and he has the hometown support. I just pray that it’s not a five-round decision snoozefest.”
Brandon Vera
“Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio! There’s no way he’s going to lose here in the Philippines! Jarred Brooks isn’t ready for the spins and the groundwork Pacio has been refining!”
Stephen Loman
“Joshua will do his best to defend his title against Jarred. He knows that his opponent is stronger than him, but he prepared a lot on his skills and it motivated him even more. That fire burns inside of him, and he will show it on December 3.”
Jeremy Miado
“If Jarred can’t finish Joshua in the first to third rounds, then either Pacio ends up with a decision or finishes him in the championship rounds. But it all depends because Pacio has been improving – he’s more solid now compared to how he was in the past, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the finish earlier. This is truly 50-50 for me.”
Danny Kingad
“For me, I will pick my teammate, my brother, my training partner — Joshua Pacio. And I know 100 percent that Joshua will win this fight by TKO in the second round.”
