Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang isn’t too optimistic about ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio’s chances when the latter unifies belts against interim king Jarred Brooks.
Pacio and Brooks will complete their trilogy when they co-headline ONE 171: Qatar on February 20 inside Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, and the Filipino dynamo was brutally blunt about the likelihood of his ex-training partner walking out as the undisputed titleholder.
READ: Pacio expects nothing but the best from Brooks in trilogy bout
Adiwang, who takes on #5-ranked Keito Yamakita at ONE Fight Night 28 on February 8, expects to compete next for the World Title if he wins, and he’s anticipating a showdown with Brooks – not Pacio – if he gets there.
“I’ll be honest. I see myself facing Jarred as the champ by the end of the year,” Adiwang said.
“I think he’ll be the champion. I’ll be happy to face him once more and I’ll be happy to challenge him.”
Adiwang sees Brooks as a bad matchup for Pacio, believing the only advantage the Filipino will have in this fight is if they end up just striking.
And that’s not much of an advantage at all, as Brooks can just easily change levels and take him down the moment Pacio gets a rhythm going on the feet.
“Jarred has the edge in all areas, except for striking. But he’s so good in changing things up and adjusting on the fly. So when he struggles on the feet, he can just change levels and wrestle you and try to submit you,” Adiwang said.
“In that area, I think he’s steps ahead of Joshua.”
Adiwang believes Pacio must step on the gas pedal from the onset. In fact, if he can make this fight as uncomfortable as possible for Brooks, he might be able to win.
“Joshua must switch it up. He has to be the aggressor. He has to dictate the pace of the fight. It’s one thing that I saw with Jarred, when he’s backing up, he tends to be more predictable.” Adiwang said.
“His takedown attempts are more predictable as well when he’s on his back foot. Then it will be easier to counter him. That’s just it, Joshua must be strong on his base, be on his front foot.”
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