The 29-year-old fighter from the Philippines began his professional career in 2013. Pacio is known for his versatility, displaying an aggressive style both in striking and grappling. He has competed in 26 fights, securing 22 victories (17 by stoppage) and suffering 4 losses (2 by stoppage). After his defeat to Jarred Brooks in December 2022, Pacio bounced back with two wins—outpointing Mansur Malachiev via decision and avenging his loss to Brooks by winning via disqualification.
The 31-year-old American has been competing professionally since 2014. His skill set includes wrestling, grappling, boxing, and Muay Thai. Brooks has fought in 26 bouts, amassing 21 wins (11 by stoppage) and 4 losses (2 by stoppage). In his last three fights, he secured a submission victory over Gustavo Balart but suffered defeats to Joshua Pacio (disqualification) and Reece McLaren (decision).
Given that the fighters have faced each other twice and secured one victory each, this fight promises to be intense and highly competitive. Both athletes are well-acquainted with each other’s fighting styles, which could result in a tactical battle without a clear dominance from either side. The most likely scenario is that the fight will go the full distance and be decided by the judges’ scorecards.
Pacio enters the upcoming fight as the slight favorite, given his recent form and well-rounded skill set. Brooks remains a dangerous opponent with his grappling expertise, but his inconsistent performances raise concerns. With both fighters familiar with each other's styles, a full-distance battle seems likely.
Our prediction – Pacio wins by decision at odds of 1.52.
