“I might surprise people with my kickboxing” - Natural grappler Jarred Brooks ready to trade shots with Joshua Pacio

The ONE 164 main event between strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks is expected to be a classic battle of striker versus grappler. However, ‘The Monkey God’ may opt to test out his stand-up skills when the two warriors descend upon the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on December 3.

In an interview with MMA Sucka, Jarred Brooks revealed that he has been working on his kickboxing skills and is confident in standing and trading with Pacio, should it come to that:

“Like I said, there’s no game plan in this game, it’s you have to be ready at all facets at all times. I might surprise people with my kickboxing skills man. I’ve been working the past six months in my kickboxing and that’s what Justin Scoggins, who’s one of the best kickboxers in the world, and he’s telling me that I’m looking sharp. I’m looking forward to trade hands as well.”

In 14 career fights under the ONE Championship banner, Joshua Pacio has an impressive 73% finish rate, including four knockouts. Standing and trading with Pacio could prove to be costly for Brooks.

‘The Monkey God’ poses the biggest threat to Pacio on the ground, but even then, the reigning world champion has shown proficiency in grappling, scoring four victories via submission.

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Jarred Brooks says his fight with Joshua Pacio at ONE 164 is already over

No matter your opinion on Jarred Brooks, you can never accuse the American strawweight contender of lacking confidence. Brooks has been going at it with his ONE 164 opponent Joshua Pacio for months in interviews and on social media. Brooks continued his trash-talking during his interview with MMA Sucka, claiming that his fight with Pacio on December 3 was over before it had even begun:

“I don’t think Joshua Pacio is ever gonna catch up to what I’ve brought and I have fought better than Joshua Pacio, no knock to him. I have not fought the wushu caliber with the calculated mind that Joshua Pacio has, but there’s just no way man.”

Jarred Brooks continued by saying:

“I’ve already got the checkmate before you even moved your first pawn. I know that Josh isn’t gonna come close to my style.”

Will ‘The Monkey God’ score the biggest win of his MMA career or can Joshua Pacio rise above with the backing of his hometown crowd in Manila?