FREE FULL FIGHT: Joshua Pacio, Jarred Brooks light up Manila in heated first world title showdown

Before lineal champion Joshua Pacio and interim titleholder Jarred Brooks step into the Circle for their highly anticipated unification clash next month, ONE Championship revisited the electrifying clash that sparked their intense rivalry.

Pacio and Brooks first squared off at ONE 164 in December 2022, delivering a thrilling back-and-forth encounter that had fans on their feet at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Check the clip below:

From the opening bell, 'The Monkey God' set a relentless pace, pursuing takedowns. Meanwhile, 'The Passion' countered with precision, using his range and movement to keep Brooks at bay.

Despite Pacio's impressive takedown defense, Brooks showcased his striking prowess, landing sharp overhand rights to keep the Filipino superstar guessing.

In the fourth round, Brooks landed a pivotal takedown and threatened with a face crank as the clock ran out. The final stanza saw him complete another double leg and control the action from the top, earning a narrow unanimous decision to claim the ONE strawweight MMA world championship.

While their first encounter was a masterclass in competitive MMA, the rematch at ONE 166 in March 2024 took an abrupt and controversial turn.

During a takedown attempt, Brooks inadvertently spiked Pacio’s head onto the canvas, rendering the Lions Nation MMA co-founder unconscious.

The illegal move resulted in a disqualification under ONE Championship’s Global MMA Rule Set, which strictly prohibits slams targeting the head, neck, or spine. As a consequence, Pacio was declared the winner.

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Joshua Pacio, Jarred Brooks to run it back at ONE 171

Now, the stage is set for Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks to settle their score once and for all.

On February 20, they will collide for the third time in the co-feature attraction of ONE 171 at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar, promising to deliver another chapter in their captivating saga.