“The Real Best” – Jarred Brooks Challenges Alexandre Pantoja to a Cross-Promotion Showdown Ahead of His Shot at Interim Gold at ONE Fight Night 24

ONE Fight Night 24 will see some movement at the top of the ONE Strawweight MMA division despite the reigning king being sidelined by injury. 

With divisional kingpin Joshua “The Passion” Pacio on the shelf due to an ACL injury, top-ranked contender and former titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks is set to face #3-ranked Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Championship in the main event of the upcoming event set for U.S. primetime of Friday, August 2nd, inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

This news, confirmed by ONE Championship on their Instagram account, caught the attention of the current UFC Flyweight Champion, Alexandre Pantoja, who found himself challenged by Jarred Brooks in the comments section to a cross-promotion fight ahead of his own appearance at ONE Fight Night 24.

Jarred Brooks proposes cross-promotion showdown with UFC

The highly anticipated trilogy fight between Jarred Brooks and Joshua Pacio will have to wait a little bit longer. Their last encounter at ONE 166, Qatar was a dramatic one. Brooks, the reigning champion at the time, was disqualified for an illegal move, handing the title to Pacio. Brooks was gearing up for a shot at redemption, but a recent injury to Pacio has thrown a wrench in those plans.

The shift to an interim title fight for Brooks has stirred excitement in unexpected corners. UFC Flyweight Champion, Alexandre Pantoja, jumped into the comments section, urging Brooks, “Let’s go all in!” Jarred Brooks then fanned the flames, replying, “I want to cross-promote show who the real best 25er is whatyasay?” This has ignited hope among fans who want to see a crossover between UFC and ONE Championship.

However, this potential UFC-ONE crossover isn’t new. Back in 2023, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong himself floated the idea, calling it potentially the biggest combat sports event on the planet.

Chatri Sityodtong proposed a ONE vs UFC cross-promotional event

The combat sports world has been a duopoly between two major powers, especially in terms of viewership: UFC and ONE Championship. UFC boasts a strong presence in established fight markets like the US, UK, and Canada. On the other hand, ONE Championship has carved out a niche for itself in Asia and Southeast Asia, becoming a household name in the region. This dominance in different territories often sparks discussions about which organization reigns supreme.

ONE Championship’s Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, appeared intent on making a cross-promotion with UFC a reality. In his interview with Sports Illustrated in 2023, Sityodtong expressed his desire for a record-breaking event. He said, “Of course, I’d love to do a cross-promotion with the UFC. UFC vs. ONE would be incredible. If you had a mega ONE vs. UFC event, it would be the biggest event on the planet.”

Furthermore, this potential collaboration comes at an interesting time. Traditionally, these two organizations operated in separate spheres, but ONE has recently shown signs of expanding its reach. With a successful American event behind them and two more scheduled later in the year with ‘ONE 168: Denver’ in September and ‘ONE 169: Atlanta’ in November.

So, do you want a crossover event between ONE Championship and UFC? Share your thoughts in the comments below!