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Fresh off his victory at ONE Fight Night 24, Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks isn’t wasting any time targeting his next opponents. On August 2, Brooks captured the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title, defeating the No.3 ranked Gustavo Balart with a first-round rear-naked choke. Now, with the gold draped over his shoulder, Brooks is eager to settle scores with two of the biggest names in the sport: Joshua Pacio and Demetrious Johnson.
Brooks has made it clear that his top priority is a unification bout with Filipino rival Joshua Pacio, the reigning lineal Strawweight World Champion.
“It means a lot, but it’s going to feel way better when I get to go against Joshua Pacio and unify that World Championship,” Brooks declared.
The history between Brooks and Pacio is filled with tension. Their last encounter in March ended in controversy when Brooks was disqualified for an illegal head-first slam, allowing Pacio to reclaim the title. The rematch left many questions unanswered, and Brooks is determined to resolve their rivalry once and for all.
With Pacio currently sidelined due to an ACL injury, Brooks is impatiently awaiting his return.
“Let’s run that back in a good way, good fashion,” Brooks urged. “I do want to bury his name. I’m tired of hearing the same name. It’s almost been three years of hearing [the name] Joshua Pacio.”
Beyond his rivalry with Pacio, Brooks has another legend in his crosshairs: Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The former UFC flyweight champion and current ONE Flyweight World Champion is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
Johnson has been relatively inactive since defending his title in a May 2023 trilogy match against Adriano Moraes, but that hasn’t deterred Brooks from pursuing a showdown. In fact, Brooks is willing to move up in weight to make the fight happen.
“I’m somebody who goes and tries to go up and beat competition. I climb the mountains, and I’m not worried,” Brooks said confidently. “I know that GOATs are really good at climbing mountains too, but I’m not afraid to try to chase a GOAT.”
Brooks’ ambitions are clear: he wants to solidify his legacy by taking on the best in the world. Whether it’s resolving unfinished business with Joshua Pacio or chasing greatness against Demetrious Johnson, “The Monkey God” is ready to prove himself against the elite.
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