Filipino MMA fighter Lito Adiwang. Handout/ONE Championship

MANILA -- Lito Adiwang is looking forward to seeing his good friend Joshua Pacio return to the top of the ONE Championship strawweight division. 

Pacio will challenge reigning champion Jarred "The Monkey God" Brooks at ONE 166: Qatar set in Lusail Sports Arena this March 1. He had dropped the belt to Brooks at ONE 164 in December 2022, when both he and Adiwang were still fighting under the Team Lakay banner.

Adiwang believes that if Pacio can change on a few things from that fight, he'll be good to go in this massive rematch against Brooks. 

"In the first fight, I think we focused too much on Jarred's strengths and we forgot Joshua's strengths," said Adiwang, who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Danial "Mini T" Williams at ONE Fight Night 19: Haggerty vs. Lobo.

READ: Adiwang decisions Williams for 3rd straight win

"We were so focused on Jarred's wrestling that we forgot to attack him and utilize our strength," he added. "I feel like Joshua lacked a bit of push in his attacks in that fight. If we add that up, I believe he'll take the win." 

The two fighters have since gone their separate ways -- Pacio now represents Lions Nation MMA while Adiwang fights for Soma Fight Club in Bali, Indonesia. But "Thunder Kid" remains a believer of Pacio's ability to bounce back after a loss. 

"The Passion" is currently 3-0 in rematches, having scored massive comeback wins each time he a lost a World Title fight, from Yoshitaka Naito to Yosuke Saruta. 

"The strength and advantage of Joshua is how he improves in every rematch. He really studies his opponent's moves with intent, and that will be the key in this rematch," said Adiwang. "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 expects Pacio to come out stronger in the rematch, finish Brooks and  win the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title for the third time in his young career.  

"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." 

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