‘May The Best Man Win’ – Joshua Pacio Speaks On Interim World Title Clash Between Brooks And Balart
The next challenger for Joshua Pacio’s ONE Strawweight MMA World Title will be decided in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video.
This Friday, August 2, former undisputed titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks will battle #3-ranked contender Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Naturally, Pacio will be paying close attention to that hotly anticipated showdown.
“The Passion” reclaimed the strawweight MMA crown back in March at ONE 166: Qatar when Brooks illegally slammed him on his head, resulting in a disqualification. He later suffered a serious knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines for an extended period.
Being out of action is a hard pill to swallow for the Filipino superstar, but he’s able to accept that an Interim World Title was the right move to keep the talent-stacked strawweight MMA division moving.
Pacio spoke to onefc.com about the clash between “The Monkey God” and “El Gladiador”:
“You know how much I want to be back in there competing, but my physical condition prevents me from doing so. It is what it is. The division needs to move forward and determine the next challenger, or in this case, the next interim champion.”
“What I love about our division is that there’s never a shortage of real World Title contenders. This will be evident in the upcoming matchup between Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart, where the top contender faces the next in line.”
Like the many fans who will be watching around the globe, Pacio is intrigued by the matchup between two of MMA’s most talented wrestlers.
In one corner, Brooks was a skilled folkstyle wrestler, competing at the U.S. collegiate level before transitioning to MMA full-time. With that experience, the American has proven to be an elite takedown artist known for big slams and suffocating top control.
Balart, meanwhile, was a Greco-Roman wrestler who competed for Cuba in the Olympics. But unlike Brooks, he tends to employ his wrestling base to defend takedowns and keep the fight standing, where he unloads massive punches.
Pacio is well aware of each man’s strengths and is looking forward to a barnburner at ONE Fight Night 24:
“As a fan of the sport, this is a fascinating matchup. You have two elite wrestlers with distinct styles that have proven successful in their careers.
“This fight raises many questions given their backgrounds. It’s truly mind-boggling. May the best man win.”
Pacio Hungry To Settle ‘Unfinished Business’ With Brooks
No matter who wins on August 2, Joshua Pacio will happily welcome a World Title unification clash against either Jarred Brooks or Gustavo Balart.
With that said, the 28-year-old has a history with Brooks and is eager to lock horns with him once again.
Pacio first won the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title in 2018 and successfully defended the belt five times to establish himself as one of the most dominant divisional kings in ONE history. However, that all came crashing down in December 2022 when he suffered a decision loss to “The Monkey God.”
“The Passion” now has a rubber match with the brash American in his sights:
“I can see where this is heading, so I’ll be straightforward.
“I have unfinished business with Jarred Brooks, and I intend to settle it in the future. If Gustavo Balart rises to the occasion, he’s more than welcome.”
