ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio respects what #1-ranked contender Jarred Brooks brings to the Circle.

He doesn’t share that same admiration for the Mash Fight Team’s antics outside the global stage, however.

Ahead of his ONE Strawweight World Title defense against Brooks in the main event of ONE 164 on Saturday, December 3, the Filipino superstar has outlined why he refuses to pay attention to the words that come out of the “The Monkey God’s” mouth.

“I know what he’s doing is just part of his psywar. Mind games. But I respect him as an athlete. I know he respects me as an athlete too,” the 26-year-old said.

Joshua Pacio intends to keep a check on his emotions

“I should be emotionless coming into this fight because I know he wants me to be emotional. If I get too emotional, he might catch me with something.” His latest verbal barbs are not the first that Brooks has thrown at the man that has reigned over the strawweight division for the past four years.

Brooks has been calling Pacio out since before he made his promotional debut. His mouthy tendencies aside, the 29-year-old dynamo has certainly earned his right to challenge Pacio over the last 15 months.

READ MORE – Rodtang Jitmuangnon Issues Stern Warning to Joseph Lasiri – “I Want To Knock Him Out With a High Kick”

He has scored three dominant wins in the Circle against opponents that are considered the best that the stacked division has on offer, including Bokang Masunyane and Hiroba Minowa.

Pacio discloses his benefits due to the delay of this bout

The pair were scheduled to faceoff earlier this year, but Brooks suffered an undisclosed injury that forced him to pull out. “The Passion” sees the delay as beneficial, however, as he now gets the chance to defend his gold in front of his hometown fans inside the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

It has also given him a chance to prepare a little more for “The Monkey God,” and now that he has, Pacio is ready to put on a show.

READ MORE – Khabib Nurmagomedov Says He Has ‘Faith’ in Teammate Saygid Izagakhmaev To Triumph Over Japanese Legend Shinya Aoki

“I’m very, very excited. At last, it’s finally happening. It was initially set on June 3, but then I thought it would be moved to September. I was just keeping myself prepared but I guess December it is,” the divisional king stated.

“I think the bout being pushed back was a blessing in disguise in a sense because it gave me time to prepare more. With three weeks to go, I feel like I’m at 100 percent. I’m ready. Everything’s ready. My goal has always been to complete a mixed martial artist, and I’m ready wherever this match goes.”