ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio has had to look back on more than two years of work to scout his next opponent Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks before they meet for the third time.
Pacio and interim king Brooks will unify the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship when they clash in the main event of ONE 171: Qatar on Thursday, February 20, inside Lusail Sports Arena in Doha.
Because their rematch ended abruptly, with Brooks getting disqualified after slamming Pacio on his head, the Filipino is still watching their initial match in Manila in 2022 for the things he needs to improve on.
“My error in that fight was just focusing on defense. I was too worried about getting taken down, and I got stagnant. I wasn’t moving,” Pacio said.
“I was waiting for an opening, and that’s my error. That’s why he was able to land those clean shots. Credit to him because his footwork and movement really frustrated me.”
As Pacio admittedly second-guessed himself in the Circle in their first fight, he wants to come into this fight being more proactive instead of reactive – a guy who’s not worried about where he’ll end up in the fight.
“The thing that I want to show is a fighter who isn’t scared of what’s gonna happen in the ring,” he said.
“A fighter who isn’t scared to get taken down. A fighter who isn’t scared to get put in a precarious position on the ground. I want to show that I know what to do now.”
Pacio wants to prove that in this fight he could turn the tides on Brooks and force him to be the one reacting.
“I want to show I have answers, that I’m not just gonna rely on my takedown defense to stop him, but I can battle him on the ground, even on my back,” he said.
“I want to show that he’s not just the one who’s a threat in wrestling. Maybe I’ll take him down, as well. Like [Demetrious Johnson], that ‘Mighty Mouse’ mentality.”
