Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3201508/one-championship-jarred-brooks-tells-joshua-pacio-im-daddy-heated-face-interview
Martial Arts/ Mixed Martial Arts

ONE Championship: Jarred Brooks tells Joshua Pacio ‘I’m daddy’ in heated face-off interview

  • Brash American challenger continues his mind games in Manila ahead of their ONE 164 main event on December 3
  • ‘I’m gonna take everything from you. You’re the last champ that’s coming out of Team Lakay. You can tell coach Mark,’ Brooks says
Jarred Brooks poses on the scale at the ceremonial weigh-ins for ONE 156. Photos: ONE Championship

True to type, Jarred Brooks continued his verbal assault on Joshua Pacio heading into their ONE Championship strawweight title showdown, as he gets set to walk into the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday night as the most hated man in Manila.

Not that he would care one jot.

“The hate, I thrive off of that, give me all of that energy,” Brooks told the Post during a face-off interview with Pacio at the Solaire Hotel and Casino Resort in Pasay City.

The 29-year-old American (19-2) will walk into enemy territory in the main event of ONE 164, looking to prise the last remaining world title from the grasp of the famed Filipino MMA factory known as Team Lakay.

The Baguio City-based stable once boasted four belts, but the 26-year-old Pacio (20-3) has seen his teammates lose their grip on gold one by one over the last four years.

Now he faces the biggest threat – by far – of his career in “The Monkey God”, who has run roughshod through his division since debuting almost exactly a year ago, all while calling for Pacio to face him.

“Don’t get it twisted, I love the Philippines, all of the Filipino people. I haven’t met one bad Filipino, even Josh,” Brooks said.

“But one hundred per cent – actually a million per cent – I’m taking that belt home with me. You can keep that old belt, Josh. I’m gonna take that new Tumi one.

“I’m gonna take everything from you, and you’re the last champion that’s coming out of Team Lakay. You can tell coach Mark Sangiao. I’m gonna take those legs, they’ll be right above my shoulder, and you’ll be planted on the mat.

“I’ve already seen everything you’re about. I can knock him out, I can make him pass out, I can make him do a lot of things. I’m daddy at the end of the day, and I’m gonna make him realise that.”

Jarred Brooks lifts up Hiroba Minowa.
Jarred Brooks lifts up Hiroba Minowa.

Brooks’ bravado has caught him plenty of ire from Filipino fans on social media, and he is likely to be given a rough ride at Wednesday night’s press conference at the Solaire, with hundreds of Team Lakay’s fervent supporters set to attend.

But all rivalries aside, Brooks insists he has plenty of respect for Pacio.

“His striking is great. I’m not gonna sit there and say it’s not good, I’m not stupid,” Brooks said. “I know what he’s about. I’ve watched him fight.

“I’ve trained with better, though, and I’ve gone against better. I’ve gone against [UFC flyweight champion] Deiveson Figueiredo, who has way better hands than you. I’ve gone against [training partner] Justin Scoggins, who has way better kicks than you. And I’ve beaten your boy, Lito Adiwang, who has more power than you.

“He’s [Pacio] a great guy. I think he’s done well for all of his Filipino people. But too bad that nice guys finish last sometimes, and the bad guy is here to take the belt back to America. This is war, and he’s my enemy right now.”

Jarred Brooks heads to the ONE Circle ahead of his fight against Hiroba Minowa at ONE: Only The Brave in Singapore.
Jarred Brooks heads to the ONE Circle ahead of his fight against Hiroba Minowa at ONE: Only The Brave in Singapore.

Brooks has certainly taken the road less travelled to earn his first title shot in a major promotion, having been released – prematurely, in most people’s eyes – by the UFC in late 2018.

Often the subject of ridicule after knocking himself out against Jose “Shorty” Torres by slamming his own head into the mat, he saw his first fight back outside the UFC – in Japan’s prestigious Rizin promotion – end after just 10 seconds following an accidental headbutt.

He has since rebuilt his reputation slowly and surely, and finally made his debut in ONE having had to sit out for almost two years because of the pandemic.

Brooks has not looked back – not for a second – since, almost as if he is making up for lost time. But when it comes to Pacio and the ONE strawweight title, patience has had to be a virtue, with an original fight date of June 3 scrapped.

Joshua Pacio celebrates a victory in the ONE Circle.
Joshua Pacio celebrates a victory in the ONE Circle.

“Time has no factor in me getting my belt, Josh, you know that,” Brooks said. “You can fight for it again, you can come to the US and see how it goes. But you know deep down inside that it’s my belt, and it’s my time.

“I’m not gonna even let you sit there and say no, because it’s gonna happen, and it’s my destiny to do it here in front of your fellow Pinoys.

“There is no loss in my vocabulary. When’s the last time you saw me lose. Me knocking myself out? Yeah. And against Deiveson, did I actually get beat by that guy? No.

“You might have grown a little bit, Joshua, but you haven’t grown that much, brother. I’ve trained with some of the best in the world. You’re gonna realise, dawg. It’s gonna make you grow. And I hope to help you grow.”