Joshua Pacio hellbent on making Jarred Brooks trilogy happen

ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio heard his name on the lips of old rival Jarred Brooks once again after the American celebrated his interim title win last week.

“Joshua Pacio, I’ve got two (belts), you’ve got one,” Brooks said at ONE Fight Night 24 as he looked at the camera, confetti raining over him.

And that prompted Pacio to react.

“I heard him loud and clear. I’m doing my best in my recovery. I’m just here, Jarred. Wait for me, I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

“I’m committed to getting back to where I belong. I have no plans of sitting on the sidelines for long.”

Brooks is eager to fight Pacio again to cement his status as the division’s best and to win his old belt back, but the Filipino has personal reasons for wanting the trilogy.

Online, talks have surfaced that Brooks is better than Pacio, even though technically they are even on the scorecards with one win each. But the American did dominate him the first time around, and the controversial nature of their rematch that Pacio won via disqualification left many unanswered questions.

Pacio might be the king of this division, but until he proves that he can beat Brooks without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll never rest easy.

“A third fight against Brooks is exactly what I want. The thing between me and him is unfinished business,” he said.

“It needs to be settled, and I am determined to be the one to finish it.”

But for their trilogy to happen soon, Pacio knows that he has to trust his doctors and therapists if he wants to get back on the saddle.

“The therapy is going well, and I’m making progress,” he said. “It’s a process, but I trust it. It’s still a long road, but I’m devoted to coming back stronger.”