ONE Championship has revealed three exciting matchups for its debut in Qatar on Friday, March 1.
The first of several expected title tilts at ONE 166 Qatar will be a rematch for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship: Brooks vs Pacio. Jarred Brooks will defend the gold against former kingpin Joshua Pacio to rekindle their rivalry. Brooks dominated the strawweight division en route to his shot at the title. Although Pacio showed himself well, Brooks’ wrestling was enough to secure a unanimous decision victory to claim the title.
After nearly a year away, Pacio returned in October to secure a decision win of his own against rising star Mansur Malaciev. Now, he gets the chance to reclaim his gold and turn away the American star. Heavyweight action was also announced for the event.
Former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Arjan Bhullar returns against Iran’s Amir Aliakbari. The two wrestlers will try to impress and get a future date against heavyweight king Anatoly Malykhin.
The heavyweight tussle will mark Bhullar’s return after losing the gold, but toppling Aliakbari may prove a tough test. The Iranian has been surging with a three-bout winning streak, and all bouts have been finished by TKO.
The third bout announced will put submission grappling back under the spotlight. Osamah Almarwai and Cleber Sousa in a flyweight contest. With ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci waiting for his next challenger, it is a prime opportunity for both men to make their claim for a second attempt at the flyweight titleholder.
ONE 166 airs live on Friday, March 1, from Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar at 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m. PST.