Doha, Qatar: Every trilogy needs two standout characters prepared to do whatever it takes to attain their goal. In boxing there was Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
In MMA, there is Jarred Brooks and Joshua Pacio. For the last three years, Brooks and Pacio’s careers have been intertwined.
Now, on Thursday, February 20, ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Pacio and interim king Brooks will meet for a third time at ONE 171: Qatar inside Doha’s Lusail Sports Arena to unify belts.
When the esteemed strawweights first met in December 2022 at ONE 164 in Manila, Philippines – where Brooks stripped Pacio of his gold – neither man could have predicted the roller coaster that awaited them.
The pair seemed destined to fight forever. But over time, the archrivals have become more than familiar with one another.
Bravery is always respected, even in an enemy, and Brooks feels both his and Pacio’s attitude toward one another has been altered due to the time they’ve endured in the ONE Championship Circle.
"It started out as bad blood,” Brooks said. “It started out as a way for me to get into Joshua's head. For Joshua, it was how do I deal with this [guy] trying to steal my belt.
"While the second fight there is a little bit more respect. You could see it. But at the same time, it's like this is a bloodsport. I feel like it's kind of the same energy as the second fight. Like, yeah, we do have mutual respect.”
Over the course of two World Championship duels, Brooks and Pacio have built a bond. It’s something only two competitors with history can understand about each other.
Given that they’ve both felt the pain of defeat throughout their rivalry, Brooks feels a deep connection to his nemesis.
"We understood each other, we understand each other's lives through social media. Spiritually as well, when you go in there, you're sharing an energy that is sacred. Through that, Josh and I are like brothers,” Brooks said.
"At the same time, when it comes down to livelihood, when it comes down to your career, when it comes down to the things that matter the most, are we willing to kill each other for that? I think that's what makes this bout so interesting.”
This journey to the trilogy has been a tumultuous road for both strawweights. But all good stories must come to an end. Every man must meet his destiny.
The brash style that Brooks has incorporated across his career has made him an attraction. He's loved in some spaces and hated in others. But when “The Monkey God” makes that walk to the Circle next week, there’s only one thing he wants the audience to do – feel something.
"I want to make people be emotionally invested, not just physically invested,” Brooks said.
“When you see people watching fights, they're physically invested. I want them to be emotionally invested. I want them to cry when I win. I want them to cry when I lose."
