“Joshua’s Taking That Belt Home”- Lito Adiwang Gives His Prediction on the Rematch Between Joshua Pacio And Jarred Brooks

Surging strawweight MMA contender Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang will be paying extra close attention to the World Title rematch between divisional king Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks and former titleholder Joshua “The Passion” Pacio at ONE 166: Qatar.

That highly anticipated clash is set to air live on Prime Video for Amazon subscribers in North America and to over 190 countries globally from the Lusail Sports Arena on Friday, March 1.

Lito Adiwang gives an analysis of the matchup between Jarred Brooks and Joshua Pacio

Fresh off a dominant victory over fan favorite “Mini T” Danial Williams at ONE Fight Night 19, Adiwang has now won three in a row after injury forced him on the sidelines for much of 2022 and 2023.

That winning streak has put the Filipino phenom knocking on the door of a World Title shot, and he knows that either Brooks or Pacio could be a future opponent–perhaps with 26 pounds of gold on the line.

In the first meeting between “The Monkey God” and “The Passion,” it was the brash American who showcased a well-rounded game, finding success with both his ever-evolving striking and powerful wrestling attack to win a five-round decision and the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title.

Despite how that first fight played out, Adiwang expects Pacio–who has since bounced back to the win column with a victory over the previously undefeated Mansur Malachiev–to make the necessary adjustments and reclaim the World Title in the rematch.

“The strength and advantage of Joshua is how he improves in every rematch. He really studies his opponent’s move with intent, and that will be the key in this rematch. For sure, he knows how strong Jarred is now, he knows the precarious positions he has to avoid, and I expect his game to show up this time,” “Adiwang explained.

Adiwang is well acquainted with each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses.

Also Read: “He Fought the More Dangerous Fighters” – Lito Adiwang Reveals Why He Backs Jonathan Haggerty Against Felipe Lobo

“Thunder Kid” explains why he’s picking Joshua Pacio to win the matchup

The 30-year-old has been a frequent training partner to Pacio, as the two were both members of the famed Philippine stable, Team Lakay. As for Brooks, Adiwang battled “The Monkey God” back in 2021, suffering a second-round submission loss to the future titleholder.

Given his history with each athlete, “Thunder Kid” is confidently picking Pacio to leave Qatar as the ONE strawweight MMA World Champion. Adiwang said, “I’ve been training with Joshua and I fought Jarred, and all I can say is that if Joshua got the proper training and adjustments for this fight, Joshua’s taking that belt home. I see him knocking out Jarred Brooks.”

Do you agree with Lito Adiwang’s pick for the matchup between Brooks and Pacio? Or do you believe that the fight will have a different outcome than what “Thunder Kid” has predicted? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also Read: ONE Championship Builds Up to ONE 166: Qatar With a Slew of Events, Starting With Star-Studded Press Conference