“I think I crossed the line there” - Jarred Brooks says DQ loss to Joshua Pacio was a much-needed ego check

Jarred Brooks believes his DQ loss to Joshua Pacio was a wake-up call.

More than a year removed from their inaugural meeting, 'The Monkey God' returned to the Circle at ONE 166 in Qatar to defend his ONE strawweight MMA world title against the very man he took it from—Joshua Pacio.

However, their bout came to a crashing halt less than a minute in when Brooks inadvertently spiked Pacio onto the top of his head during a takedown attempt.

The disqualification not only cost Brooks his 'O' under the ONE banner, but it also cost him his ONE world title. Still, 'The Monkey God' believes that it was a valuable learning experience that he'll take into his future fights.

"I think that [DQ loss to Joshua Pacio] was a great thing that happened for me inside the Circle because it let me understand how I should display my characteristics and display my martial arts style without crossing the line," Brooks said in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA. "And I think I crossed the line there in March."

---

Jarred Brooks goes for interim gold against Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24

Jarred Brooks will look to take the first step towards climbing back to the top of the mountain when he returns to the Circle on Friday, August 2.

Emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, 'The Monkey God' will meet streaking Cuban sensation Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 to crown an interim ONE strawweight MMA world champion.

While Brooks enters the bout looking to bounce back from his DQ loss to Joshua Pacio, 'El Gladiador' will be gunning for his fifth-straight victory and his first 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold.

Who leaves the Mecca of Muay Thai with an interim title and a future date with undisputed champion Joshua Pacio?

ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 24 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.