ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks has nothing but love for Filipinos around the world.
But ahead of his rematch against Joshua “The Passion” Pacio next weekend, he’s going to have to break the hearts of Filipinos all over again and prove that all eyes in the division should be locked on him and him alone.
Brooks and Pacio will tangle for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title once again in one of the featured bouts at ONE 166: Qatar inside Lusail Sports Arena on Friday, 1 March.
“The Monkey God” thinks that fans have been overhyping Pacio, and it’s his job to send the Filipino back down and prove that there’s only one kuya that Pinoys should be looking at – and that’s him.
“Yeah, I'm so excited to show the world and to show ONE Championship that I am truly the best strawweight in the world and to show that I'm the best flyweight in the world as well,” Brooks said.
“ONE Championship puts Joshua Pacio out on a silver spoon-platter, and I want to shut [critics] up. I want to shut everybody down and prove that you guys should be focusing on me and not your kuya.”
For Brooks, he expects a win in the rematch to come easier than the first time, especially since he’s already seen what Pacio can do firsthand.
Sure, Pacio’s been working his tail off for this rematch, but the American believes that he’s much better physically and mentally.
“I want to prove that I'm 10 times better than Joshua Pacio. And that first fight, I was nervous. I'm not gonna lie, bro. I was super nervous. And to see how Josh was powerful, Joshua's jiu-jitsu. All of that culminated. But now, I know how to beat you.” he said.
“I already know what you're going to be trying to focus on on how to beat me. So I've been working on that for a year and three months. You don't know what's going to be coming out of the woodwork when Jarred Brooks is coming after you.”
That said, Brooks reiterated his love for the Philippines and its passionate fans and, after this fight, he hopes to be the kuya that Filipinos will look after.
“All you guys are amazing. All ONE Championship fans are amazing. I've gotten nothing but love from the Philippines after the fight. I thought that that was awesome,” he said.
“So I appreciate all of you kuyas that are watching, even when you guys are in the Middle East. I know like 250,000 Filipinos are gonna be there. So hopefully after this fight, then you guys adopt me as your Filipino kuya.”
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